PUBLIC HEALTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 209, 1 September 1920, Page 8

PUBLIC HEALTH.

REORGANISATION SCHEME. LOCAL BODIES' POWERS. # " (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The introduction by the Hon. C. JParr to-day of the Health Bill, , a measure of 140 clauses consolidating the law on the subject and providing 'for reorganisation of the administrative machinery, was received with great interest by the House. The.bill provides that the Department of Health is to comprise, seven divisions dealing witn public hygiene, hospitals, nursing, schools of hygiene, dental hygiene, child welfare, and Maori hygiene. It will be administered by 'the Minister of Health and the Director-General of Health, who shall be a medical practitioner with special qualifications in sanitnry science, ! the directors of the above mentioned ; divisions, and a Board of Health comprising the eneral of Health, an officer of the Internal Affairs Depart- . :nent, a medioar practitioner in the Government service, a medical practitioner I nominated by the New Zealand branch lof the British. Medical Association, a medical practitioner who is a ot the medical faculty of the Otago University, one representative each of the Municipal Association, Counties Association, Civil Engineers, Hospital Boards, and one other person not a medical man appointed by the Minister. Responding to several members' .inquiries for information and some - criti- , eism that, local bodies powers were being interfered with, Mr. Parr said that the exact contrary was the case. The Chiel Health Officer, under the present law, could be an absolute dictator -to the local authorities, but the 'bill sought to place the power in the hands of the ■Health board, on which laymen would be predominant. If there was one thing the bill provided it was an increase in the powers of> the local government. (Hear, hear.) It would give local authorities increased powers. It was proposed to transfer the Education Department's medical -activities to the Health Department. Mr. Lysnar, in distinction from the previous speaker, said he had lfeen' asfeed by the Gieborne Borough Council to urge that Health Officers have greater powers in administering the Health Act in localities, and there was less liability to friction and trouble. What will be the power of the .municipalities, to deal with epidemics? asked Mr. Veii/eh, who referred to c the v overlapping and confusion during the influenza epidemic. 'Mr. Parr replied that tnls was an exemplification of the ne.ed for such a bill. 1 It was perfecUy true that during the last epidemic there was confusion ot authority, which made for anything but efficiency. The trouble was that responsibility for dealing with infectious diseases was vested in the Hospital Boards and the other powers were vested in the local authorities and also the Health Department, but the Hospital Boards regarded the treatment of the sick as their only function, and* did not bother with the sanitary conditions oi their areas. . Replying to Mr. Kellett, the Minister said there would be no further difficulty over the demolition of insanitary buildings, as the bill gave local authorities power to deal with the matter off their own bat. The bill wee read- a second time formally, and referred to the Health Committee, which will take evidenc-e. »