HEALTH DISTRICTS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLVII, Issue 51, 24 December 1920, Page 8

HEALTH DISTRICTS.

THE DEPARTMENT'S SCHEME. ACCEPTED 'BY BAIXJLUTHA. \ At the meeting of the Balclutlia [Borough Council on Jlonuaj evening Dr .McK.oi >iii (District Health Officer •for Ot:tj:t>\ with Inductors Craighead and Carnuou, waited upon the couueil in order lo explain tlie p;o\Lsions of the new Health Act, lIWO.

On 'Jiii.,; lU'lctfmed b> tlio. Viiyor, 9)r .M>Ki\)oiu -aid )w was mm •.lml of the O]poitniii<\ ot mcetii'3 the luuucil and the innttir with them. Jt had jica i\e p'jetiie ~o put ilie mat ter biLU'- i'. v cl.-rk- Mil lv.iw it to then 10 j.i.t n*ioi. thei: coiim-iK The Health Vi-t of l'r-JO placed mi.ch gieater rcs-pon-jsiililv i.pi.n local bodies. 'Prior to the passing of the Act sanitary inspector we-;' paid 'by. hospital Iboards and a levy made upon' local authorities to meet the expenditure, 'but town and 'county councils, town iboards and road •districts were now tiie only, heal authorities for all public health- purposes. The Act required that every local authority should have a sanitary inspector who shall 'be 'required to ibe tlie '•holder of a certificate.from' the Boyal (Sanitary institute. If any ..local authority failed to appoint or employ a sanitary inspector the Department would authorise one of its.health inspectors to carry out the duties, his salary and expenses 'being charged to : the local authority of the district, and would : be recoverable as a debt due to it-lie-"Crown. A local authority may however, in lieu of appointing its own inspector, pay into the Consolidated Fund 'from time to time such sums as may be agreed on towards the salary of an inspector, who shall be appointed by the department. It is incumbent- on all local authorities to appoint sanitary inspectors. One health inspector would

ibe appointed to an average of 15,000

persons for the control of infectious diseases ami general, sanitation and the average salary amounted to £SOO, •which included' £2OO for travelling, expenses, the Health Department would provide medical officers of health, senior inspectors ami clerical staff, their salaries and expenses and half the salary

and expenses of sanitary inspectors. The assessment to the local authority [worked out. at £l6 3s 4d per WOO of

population, or 4d per capita, though the total assessment of any local authority

might vary slightly as its population increased or decreased.' 'Excluding the cities of Duncdin and Invercargill, nine sanitary inspectors were required for

the Otafto district. The local authorities in Otago had been grouped as best to Iform health districts, and the inspector would 1)0 located at the geographical centre of his district.

3>r ilcKib'hin said that the South Otogo 'group included the Boroughs of "Miltou, Kaitaugata, Lawrence, and •Balclutha, the - southern portion' of Bruce 'County, part of Clutha County on the east side, and a little of Tuapeka •County, making a district of -14,890. person. It was proposed to place the Inspector at Balclutha as the centre. He 'would keep in touch with the

local authorities throughout South ■Dtago ami attend to their needs. in the exercise of his duties. It was expected that the levy Balclutha would have to |iay would 'be not more than

's27, but they would get a more efficient service than at present. It was generally recognised that the supervision of sanitation and the prevention 'of disease was a matter that should «on«ern the local authorities, 'but it was sometiimes preferred to have the Inspector appointed by an outside authority though he would always have the backing of the local authority and the senior Health officers, and being in touch with the Department ■would be kept up-to-date. The Department itself favoured this taethod. He would attend to all inspections and Banitary matters and supposing any borough- had a sanitary scheme in view, he could advise and prepare the data for that sehe'me, and advice could also foe secured fron* the Departtment and drainage engineer. ■Though an inspector was not expected to revolutionise a place, he would save people considerable expense in the proper erection of their buildings.

In the 1916 census on which the idistricts were based, the population of Bafclatha was Woo,..Kaitangata 1680, ILafreniee 840, Milton 1320, and Clinton:'4lo. Up to December 31 the levy of the Otago H. and CjA. Board prodded for the necessary sanitary inspections in these plaees. / . !Phe iMayijr thanked Or iMcKibbin for 'V ■ placing the matter so clearly before thAi and asked for discussions. Councillor Wood thought the council would be wise to go in for one of (the Department's inspectors who was inot an employee of the Borough. He thought that more efficient service could foe rendered by an outside man, He.Jdid.not think £23 a year at all out of tie way for "keeping the town free frotu disease and ill health: ©r McKMriu said that Milton had agreed to have a man appointed by the department and pay their share. Councillor Watt asked whether the department allowed for a residence. IDje IMcKibbin said that was proTided' for. in his salary, ff a house was built for him, he would of course pay rent for it. Councillor (Landels considered that it "would be an exceptionally good thing tor the borough to have the" service of one of the Department's inspectors. Other councillors concurred. Mr A. (McDonald (county clerk), on Being asked to speak, feaid he~'nad to apologise for the absence of Mr Cumiming (countr'thairman), and though (he coiild novdoiinjit, the councirhe' (nentonally that Jthe offer should bo it, was jwitfcdrawn. iH« askej&wjiat &p. post-, ittoa of a losal body would Wotideclde to join in. ■ ," „- IDp McKifcbiii. replied thatjif- there Wy four joS, the otheif t''jjj&& for therhlerves

and -■ft-ottia ,i prolbaibly "ha's c to pay heav-' 1 i!y,fj>r Win. IWould not prevent the I other fbur from getting the services of the man, - ' !M? -McDonald said the Clutha Couhty a present-paid >#M tVthe H. aiul/C. Awt BoaFu*aml tjfej.proposcd levy would 01. ly be Mwjut ;£l£s. Hfe would report the tase to'Vlic council."'

On the motion of 'Councillor 6. W. ■Wood, seconded 'bj: Councillor Watt, it was unanimously agreed to accept flic Depaitment \ scheme and pay the levy for the appointment of a Health Tus-peetor for the district. Dr 'McKHnbiii said he ■was very !>iatefnl fni the icady rpsponsc, and Ir: had uason to believe they would 'je plea.-cd at theii decision. 'He had noted the- advance of the town and distiiet ami ui the district ad\aneed -■lnirary proolciiis Hire bound to increase. The department hoped that local authorities would retain all the

power in connection with sanitary matters in their area. The inspector was not .expected- to. run the show, but to stibmit reports. to the councils.

In reply to 'Councillor Wood, Dr Mc,Kilb;bin "stated that the appointment ' would take effect from the Ist of April, jb.eiug the,beginning of the new financial year, fne financial responsibility rested upon the local authorities from January 1, ■ the sanitary inspection from then until April toeing arranged for.

The Mayor proposed a hearty voto of thanks to Dr McKiibJtin, which was carried toy acclamation, and after the doctor had retired, his Worship congratulated the council on the way they had taken the (matter in hand.