CONFERENCE OF SANITARY COMMISSIONERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 105, 4 May 1900, Page 2

CONFERENCE OF SANITARY COMMISSIONERS.

PROPOSED LEGISLATION

(By Telegraph.-Press Association.)

. "WELLINGTON, Thursday. A conference of Sanitary Commissioners was held to-day, the Hon. J. G. Ward presiding, and there were present: Dr. Mason and Mr Gilruth (General Commissioners), Dr. Fyffe (Wellington), Dr. Roberts (Otago), Dr. Torrance (Southland), and Dr. Syme. (Christchurch). . '.

Mr Ward explained that he had called the Commissioners together to devise the best methods of dealing with precautions against the plague, and for the protection of the public health, wlifle restricting- trade and commerce as little as may be consistent with the objects in view.

The Conference resolved: "That 24 hours be sufficient for quarantine of vessels, the passengers to enter into a bond to report themselves every day for five days, the cargo to be fumigated while in quarantine; that the examination of the passengers and crew be rigid; that it is desirable vessels should be inspected before leaving an infected port; that fumigation, as invented by Dr. Mason, be used for fumigating vessels; that formalui be used for fumigating sensitive cargo; that the time for the fumigation of ships and cargo, under pressure by machine, be eight hours; that sheds or wharves containing goods be fumigated from Saturday to Mon£yy; that shipmasters enter intoa bond to prevent rats coming ashore; that local authorities use every endeavour to clean up rubbish on the foreshores; that all local bodies be enjoined to take special directions to effect cleanliness; that the Bluff Harbour quarantine station, recently burned, be reconstructed; that hospitals for the isolation of plague patients be immediately erected at Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Dunedin, Bluff, ]\ Tew Plymouth, Wanganui and Timam; the destruction of rats is of vital importance, and that the local authorities of the colony be asked to conform to a date for the destruction of rodents; that local bodies distribute poison free, and the. Conference suggest twoparts white arsenic, one of pollard or oatmeal, and oil of rhodium, or aniseed; that danger exists In the indlscriininate carrying of' rats through the streets, and the Conference suggest that they be removed early in the morning by scavengers, 'where this is impracticable the rodents should be dipped in boiling water; that the irregular methods of disposal of nightsoil and house refuse be condemned, and that it be recommended that local bodies be urged to discontinue the system of allowing individuals to dispose of the material, and undertake the work themselves at the cost of the residents; that, the removal of such matter be as often as possible; that private slaughterhouses are undesirable, and should not beallowed; further, that slaughterhouses receive the closest attention from Sanitary Commissioners; that pigs should not be allowed in connection with slaughtei--houses, and in any case should not be fed ou offal; that the health officers inspect all dairies in the colony and report to the Colonial Secretary and local bodies; that destructors be erected in the chief centres, and all rubbish burned, the medical Commismioners to draft sanitary precautions; that no second-hand clothing, raw bones, or old sacks be landed in the colony; that local bodies report the death of rats from unexplained causes or in considerable numbers; that the local Commissioners communicate with Dr. Mason on any question of a suspicious character; that the plague hospitals be erected in hospital grounds, Dr. Mason to choose the site; that mail clerks engaged in fumigating1 mails be allowed to return to duty if in the opinion of the' health officers there are no suspicious circumstances, and the vessel from which mails are landed is free from

infectious disease; that mails be allowed to be fumigated on quarantine j stations or steamers."

The Conference was advised that the sanitary by-laws at Gore had been up- , set on the' decision of the magistrate, and Dr. Roberts was asked by the j Colonial Secretary to visit Gore on his return South. It was also resolved "'That the Sanitary Commissioners report on all cesspits with a view to j having them discontinued ; that the sealed pan system be adopted where no1 proper water service is available; that no fowl be kept in towns or cities within 30ft of a dwelling. and then only under inspection: i that no pigs be kept within 100 yards I of a dwelling; that notices insisting | on sanitary precautions be published j in English and Maori, and be posted j in prominent parts of the colony. The Hon. Mr Ward announced that he intended having the resolutions gazetted, and that they would form I the basis of sanitary legislation to !>e j introduced by the Government next session. Tie pointed out that questions outside what had been already decided crop up, and the Conference carried a j resolution that where insanitary I dwellings are reported, and the local bodies through laches of law have no j power to interfere, the Government be urged in the interests of the public | health to take the matter in its oLvn hands, and have such buildings destroyed.