, 1876-02-19

&OLA 4ndy 4sOO y L III CuAIO buUulQ DC auAlIlLCu
for confirmation before it had attained the age
before the 10th year,, which enactment con-
tinued in force entirely until the Ordinance of
23rd March 1927 s l emanated, giving permits
sion to the Bishops in quite exceptional cases
TO allow confirmation before that age, while
is years still continues to be the customary
term and agreeably to the Law of End May
1855 4 children who have filed their 18th
year shall be dismissed from school here for
the colonies, if demanded by parents or guar
dams, the School Regulations Of 25th August
1912 for Town Schools, Chapter III ~.
provide that children shall not be finally dis
missed in their 18th year, but if they should not
possess the prescribed amount Of knowledge,
they may be kept to school longer the ReguIa-
tions of 9th September 1853 for the Country
Schools S 6 prescribe that the lists from Estates
shall contain the ages of children under Is
years, and, finally, agreeably to our Labour
Act the civil age of minority is Is years, SO
that children above that age can contract and
act for themselves. From these data be had
thought it best, and as the Law for Denmark
had gone out from the confirmation age, to
propose the age of Is. In regard to amendment
No. 4, he would beg to allude to his remarks
at the first discussion, when he expressed his
opinion that the fines in the Draft are too high,
as Rigsdollars have been changed to Westindia
Dollars, while formerly l Rigsdollar was put
down equal to 81 cts. He should have proposed
another amendment viz: to strike out all the mini
mafo the fines, but he had refrained, as it is desi-
rable to keep. as much as possible to the original
Law.
3rd Member for Christiansted (Hansop) believed
that in England children are to be vaccinated
when 3 months old. And what does it avail
that a law of Denmark fixes a term that does
not suit US here 2 In extending q law of Den
mark to the colonies must it not be made so as
to suit our local circumstance 2-He could
not see that the children and the community
should be exposed to the risk of taking infeo-
tion, from the mere wish 10 have our laws in
accordance with those of Denmark, in fact he
could not see the necessity or utility of extend
ing laws, if they were not to be made to suit
the circumstances.
The President could with regard TO the amend
ments No. 3 81 5 not deny there was a great deal
of force in the arguments advanced in support of
them it appeared, from the framing Of the
law, that the legislator in using the term
children had had in view all unCOnirmed persons,
for as a rule children in Denmark are confirmed
at the age of about Is years hence after con.
frmatiOn persons are generally speaking no
longer considered children. At the SAM time
he must admit that the wording of the draft
is too vague, Their efore be agreed in the pro-
posed addition of "uuder Is years." With
reference to this and the other amendments re-
garding reduction Of the fines, he had no OBJ
%jections to such reduction, if the Council should
share the opinion of the honorable Member.
9TH Crownmember (JarS) seconded the pro-
posal No. 8, that the age ''under Is years"
be added the omission of the duty treated of
In / involves penalty Of fine; it is necessary
that people should know when they are com
hitting an unlawful act as it may by many be
considered doubtful when persons cease to be
children, and even the authorities may differ in
Opinionsas to when parties may be styled chill
dren, it should be determined in what age
the individuals in question are in the face of
the law to be considered children. There is
something in this s that might appear
strange, viz. in regard to the term of
6 years for, suppose the Ordinance to com
into force on the 18th August, then children
6 years of age and born on the 18th August
would only have one day to prepare for vac
~cination, but children born on the 14th Au-
gust would have a whole year to wait. But
this can perhaps not be avoided.
1st Member for Christiansted (LenaminR)
would also second the amendment No. 3.
But, while the Ordinance will be containing
provisions concerning the vaccination Of chill
dren between 6 and Is years of age, there are
no provisions given for adults are they to
60 unvaccinated, even if they have not been
vaccinated in their childhood