264 PROCEEDINGS. 



Mr. EoBEETS said that the Colonial Secretary had offered the. 

 Society the services of a Parliamentary Draftsman and of the 

 Government Printer to aid them. That appeared to him to show 

 the Colonial Secretary's earnestness in the work, and he for one 

 felt that he could see the way clear before the Society to do a 

 great good to the community. He saw the difficulty mentioned 

 by Mr. Eussell ; but this appeared to him to be an exceptional 

 case, and one that was hardly political in its character. He 

 thought they might perhaps get over the difficulty by appending 

 to Mr. Russell's resolution words in effect disavowing any poli- 

 tical object on the part of the Society, and stating that it was 

 only in view of the sad condition of the Colony, and in the cause 

 of humanity, that it determined to take the work up. The work 

 would no doubt be very arduous. It required special knowledge, 

 and there was no other body that he was aware of equally 

 capable of dealing with it, except the Sewage and Health Board. 

 He should personally be glad to be relieved from the work, but 

 he would not shirk it if it were felt to be desirable. 



The Honorable Eeajstcis Loed seconded the resolution. 



Dr. Belgeave and Mr. Murray spoke in favour of the reso- 

 lution. 



Mr. Chaeles Mooee and the Eev. Wm. Scott opposed the 

 resolution. 



Professor Liveesidge did not think the Society should inter- 

 fere in any way whatever with legislation. They might give some 

 general suggestions to the Government, and what was done had 

 better be done by the Sections of the Society — by the Committees 

 of the Sanitary and Medical Sections. 



The Chaiemais" also thought that the matter had better be 

 left with the Sections. 



The Eev. Mr. Scott moved, as an amendment, the omission of 

 all the words after the word " be," with the view to insert the 

 following words — " requested to draw up a series of suggestions 

 to be submitted to the Government with a view to the prepara- 

 tion of such Bill." 



Dr. Neild seconded the amendment. He thought that what- 

 ever was done by the Sections of the Society would be regarded 

 as done by the Society itself. 



Mr. Eobeets said, that if they confined their action to merely 

 giving a few suggestions the matter would fall through. 



The amendment was then put to the meeting from the Chair, 

 and negatived, and the resolution was carried. 



Mr. H. C. Eussell then moved, "That the Secretary be 

 directed to inform the Colonial Secretary of the foregoing reso- 

 lution, and to request that a Parliamentary Draftsman be 

 appointed to act with the Committee." 



The motion was seconded by Dr. Belgeaye, and carried. 



