THE QUACKERY BILL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8984, 18 July 1907, Page 2

THE QUACKERY BILL.

AMUSING PARLIAMENTARY INTERLUDE. [FkOJI OUK UOKSKSI'ONDENT.] WELLINGTON, July 17. Armed with a lengthy list or analyses, Mr Honisby (Wairarapa) endeavoured this evening to demolish everyone.* ideals in inetiicino and tonics one by one. He pulled to pieces the favourite mixtures, exposing their ingredients to tho vulgar understanding and Jetting in eomo light upon what stands behind the attractive label and the high-sound-ing name The occasion was the second reading of Mr Horns by 's Quackeries Bill, which was introduced last session with tho intention of preventing tne | salo of remedies unless the formula is ! first deposited with an examining board to be appointed for the purpose of issuing certificates if they are satisfied in regard to the curative or other beneficial qualities of the preparation submitted to them. Mr Hornsby proceeded first to disclose the constituent parts of popular pills, some ci which, he ali leged, contained soap- When there | were exceptions amusec* _iembers cried disappointedly " What ! no soap?" One | specific, tho title of which happened to coincide with the name of a popular southern member, was said to contain 47 per cent of free sulphur and a little bitters. This, of course, was tak-en in I a personal 6ense. Members affected to become quite startled when tho speaker quoted a compound which sounded like " Bubcfi Bericolcsis." " Now we come to hair restorers,' proceeded Mr ! Hornsby, and a number of members | quickly put on their hats Mr Aitken (Wellington) wlio is happily independent of euch preparations, suggested for tho benefit of his elderly colleagues on the Opposition benches that the particulars of the restorers should he read out slowly, so that they could be taken down. Mr Hornsby rapidly pa&sed on to drink cures, one of which was said to be merely sugar and salt. Mr R. M'Kenzie endeavoured to put a period to the merriment by suggesting that Mr Hornsby was out of order in reading his speech. " I am quoting a scientific document." retorted Mr Hornsby. 1 am sorry the honourable gentleman is per- j turbfd. He is not a dealer in quack mpiclieinp-s." „„_ Mr Wilford '(referring to Mr M'Kenzie'.s private Bill regarding noxious weedis") : "He has some noxious subjects ( on hand." j Having successfully escaped the point of order, Mr Hornsby went on to say that the medicines quoted were never worth more than sixpence a bottle, so that it paid tho prorvietoT-fi to advertise extensively. His Bill would not prevent any honest man or the genuine practitioner from carrvinsr on his profession, but it would stf>D the operations of th« charlatan. He desired to ccc tho Bill sent to a Select Committee, which would have power to take evidence "flT>d report. T^e Bill -was rend a second time, and referred to a Select Committee of ten member*?. .