CONTROL OF MASSEURS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2027, 13 August 1920, Page 2

CONTROL OF MASSEURS.

BILL BEFORE THE HOUSE. Press Association, WELLINGTON, August 12.. The House of Representatives tonight wont into committee on the Masseurs Registration Bill. On clause 4, Mr C. K. Statham (Dunedin Central) moved to exeise the provision that before a masseur can be registered he must be able to show to the Registration Board he is "competent to perform the duties of a masseur." This provision, he contended, would be a hardship to many excellent masseurs.

The Minister of Public Health (Hon. C. J. Parr) objected to the amendment, as it opened the door too wide. Dr A. K. Newman (Wellington East) said the Public Health Committee had fully considered all the arguments in favour of the amendment, and had decided agaiust it. He hoped the Minister would stick to his Bill.

Messrs R. McCallum, L. M. Isitt, R. A. Wright and T. K. Sidey contended that all masseurs who were now in practice should be admitted without question. After that, the restriction might be made as severe as possible. The precedent set in the cases of other professions ought to be observed in the case of masseurs.

The Minister replied that this would make the Bill a mere scrap of paper. , Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) argued that everything depended upon the personnel of the board. If they knew who were to constitute the board they might form some idea of what view the board would take of an applicant's qualifications. A board of doctors might, take a narrow, technical view, instead of judging by results. He wanted to know whether competence was to be judged by theoretical knowledge or by practical results.

The Minister said that, even if a masseur could not get on the register, it did not prevent him from practising. He still had the right to carry on his business. All he could npt dp was to call himself a registered masseur. The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invei'cargill) said the Minister had just given his whole case away. The register was surely an indication of qualification. It was absurd to say that a person who could not get on the register should be allowed to practise. It was an anomaly that did not exist in other professions.

After further discussion, the Minister suggested that any person who had been practising massage for three years during the past five years should have the right to be registered. Mr Statham accepted this in lieu of his amendment, and moved iti The amendment was agreed, to ,on the voices. Mr H. E..Holland (Buller) moved a new sub-clause, giving masseurs who have not had three years' practice the choice of proving their competence, either by practical or theoretical examination or both. The Minister said he could -not accept the amendment, as it was impracticable. Whatever the examination was it must consist of both practical and theoretical tests; neither one nor the other could be entirely eliminated. On a division the amendment lost by 54 votes to five. On the motion of Mr V. IT. Reed (Bay of Islands), the following words "were added to Mr Statham's amendment: — /'And that he bears a good character." j This was agreed to.

Mr Reed moved an amendment denying the right to any unregistered person to practise as a masseur. j The Minister opposed the amendment, which was lost on the voices,' i The ' Bill was reported from Committee.