PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19249, 13 August 1924, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

NOTES FROM PRESS GALLERY. (From Odr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 13. REGISTRATION OS' MASSEURS. An amending Bill to deal with the registration of masseurs was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. Replying to a question by Mr H. G. Sullivan (Avon), the Minister of' Healtn (Sir Maui Pomare) said that tho masseurs bad asked for the Bill, which was mainly technical and brought them into line with other countries. The Bill defined the term massage. It provides for the increase from one to two masseurs on the Registration Board, the remaining members of the board being tho registrar and a medical practitioner as under the 1920 Act, Tho Bill docs not apply to chiropractors. FRUIT CONTROL. The Fruit Control Bill, which was introduced in tho House of xtepresentalives to-day and read a first time is to all intents and purposes the same Bill that was considered by the Fruitgrowers’ Association. Tho main features of tho Bill arc contained in Parts 1 and 3. There is provision for the appointment ot a Fruit Export Control Board, also for the appointment of overseas agents. Part 2 deals with tho control of fruit for local consumption. This part of the Act is not to be operative in any provincial district until brought into force by proclamation, and polls are to be taken on a proposal to bring this part of the Act into operation. The.Bill deals also with the Constitution and powers of local control boards. Part 3 provides for a levy on fruit Intended for export and on all fruit produced in a district in which Part 2 of the Act is in operation, and intended for sale or consumption in New Zealand. The levy is to be prescribed by regulation, and is not to exceed od s case. BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION. A Bill dealing with the registration ot births and deaths was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. This Bill was originally prepared by Sir Frederick Chapman in his capacity as the Compiler of Statutes. Certain new matter has since been incorporated on the recommendation of the RegistrarGeneral, who administers the present Act. All tho new matter is marked in the usual way by side or underlines. The principal alteration of the law is provided for in Clause 24 of tho BiR It enables the Registrar-General (nut nd a. local registrar) to register a birth, notwithstanding that tjie prescribed time for registration may have expired. The fac that the RegistrarGeneral may register any birth after the prescribed time will not operate, however, to relieve any person from the liability ho may have incurred by failure to register tho birth within the proper time. A special form of ‘‘coroner’s order to bury' is prescribed by Section 31 of the present Act, but has been omitted from the Bill, a more suitable form being prescribed by the schedule to the Coroner’s Act, 1908. DISLOYALTY AT LEAGUE FOOTBALL. MATCH. TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —I would like to aek “Protestant,” whose letter appeared in your issue of Tuesday, if he thinks the public of Dunedin, simple enough to believe that the alleged disloyalty at the football match was wholly confined to a certain religious body in this town. This is the only meaning that can be inferred from his letter. In the first place, he has made a big error in suggesting that the members of the teams wore disloyal. In both tho English and Now Zealand teams were a number of ex-soldiers, who probably were game enough to go where a lot of “Protestant’s” kind did not go. Again, in tho New Zealand team on Saturday there was a member of the N.Z.E.F. team which won the King's Cup. So much for the disloyalty of the playera. As an ex-soldier I must admit that the National Anthem does not get respectful treatment from the people, but that treatment is not confined to any particular class or creed. Through the National Anthem being played, in inappropriate places it has lost to a very great extent its real meaning. But Saturday’s episode is no reason why we should see red and vilify anybody in particular. In Dunedin there is a big field of action for "Protestant” to inculcate loyalty. 1 would suggest that he visit the theatre and picture halls, and delive; a ’ five-minute speech in respect to the National Anthem, as at the present time it is treated in a very much more disrespectful manner in the theatre than was the case on Saturday at Tahuna Park. Would “Protestant” suggest that in the theatre and picture houses these disrespectful audiences arc entirely composed of the religious body he seeks to get at variance with? For his information 1 wish to tell him that at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, the New Zealand Rugby Union team, whilst playing New South Wales not so very long ago, actually kicked off before the last strains of the National Anthem had died away, but we were not so biased or narrow as to consider it in the way “Protestant” has done.—l am, etc., August 12. Gaza,

Sir, —I read with disgust and indignation a letter by “Protestant” in the issue of your paper this morning. For unadulterated bigotry and ignorance it is absolutely par excellence.. Will you allow' me to inform “Protestant” that for 60 years (with very few exceptions) I have attended service in the Catholic Church, and in the 'opening prayers arc tbe following words: "We pray for the King (the Constitution) and all that are in high stations; for peace- and goodwill among all nations and people,” etc. That prayer is said in Dunedin, North-East Valley, Kaikorai, Mornington, South Dunedin, and Anderson’s Bay every Sunday in the year. It is not lip loyalty, but a devotional act on the part of the congregation to call down the blessing of Almighty God on the Empire and its rulers. Notwithstanding this, “Protestant” has the audacity to accuse me of disloyalty if I do not stand at attention while the band is playing tbe National Anthem, and says if I left the country I would be a very good riddance — after a residence of nearly 60 years, and rearing a respectable and law-abiding family of seven children.

Thank God, the “big loyal section of the people” he writes about, who “stand four square” for the Empire, are not judged by the calibre of your correspondent—if we take his narrow-minded, vindictive letter as indicating the nature of the individual. X am afraid if the “big loyal section of the people” were so composed it would bo a case of “God help the King.”—l am, etc., August 12. Richmond.

Sir, —Your correspondent “Protestant” must have a- kink. The Rugby Union, which had no band on Saturday, and practically never hce one, is praised by your correspondent, while tbe Rugby League, which, at its first game, has a band, is disapproved of because, he says, some of the players—thoughtlessly, no doubt—did not give sufficient attention while “God Save tho King” was being played. Surely tho body which attempts, however imperfectly, to meet our ultra-loyalist friend’s aspirations is more deserving, in big view, than the body ignores them. Holding his views, why was he patronising the League game anyway? I put away temptation, myself, and went to Car is brook. —I am, etc., -League-Union. August 12.