HEALTH OFFICER AND BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 8 November 1904, Page 2

HEALTH OFFICER AND BOROUGH COUNCIL.

« STRONG CRITICISMS. Recently the Health Department came in for severe criticism at the hands of Hutt Borough Councillors in consequence of its altered demands in regard to the drainage of the public conveniences at the Hutt racecourse, and the Town Clerk was instructed to write expressing dissatisfaction, and to state that the Council considered the club was being treated in an exceptional manner. The District Health Officer (Dr. Makgill) replied last night. "It may not have occurred to the Council," he said, "that the racing club Would have been treated in a very exceptional manner if, after the Council had neglected for many years to take action in thes matter, it should, within two years of the termination of the club's tenancy of the premises, demand an expenditure of perhaps £100." Had there been, as he at first thought, only one outfall, the erection of the tank would have involved a moderate outlay, which would have been reasonable enough. But as it was, he did not intend to ask for anything more elaborate than the shutes mentioned in his iast letter. If the Council wanted a complete treatment for this sewage, it was a matter for surprise that it did not compel it to be done when the pollution of the stream was first begun many years ago. When the tenancy of the premises was of a more permanent nature, it would be reasonable to ask for a more satisfactory system of disposal. A chorus of condemnation greeted the reading of this letter. "It's a wonderful production, » and ought to be framed," said Councillor Leighton. "It's absolutely rotten," was the Mayor's opinion. Councillor HoLard said the condition of things at the racecourse was simply disgraceful, and worse than ever it was. The Health Department objected to a cow-yard draining into the Black Creek, and yet would ahow the sewage from thousands of people and 20 closets to go into the Waiwetu Stream. Councillor Leighton said the Department jumped on a small cottage and insisted on it doing what it wanted in the matter of drainage, but dealt very differently with a wealthy club. The Mayor said it was enough to choke them right off the Health Department. The Council had done all it could to assist the Department in many cases, and then the Department acted like this ! As to the club's lease expiring in two years, that was not correct. It had much longer to run. He thought the letter from the Health Officer should be sent to the Minister in charge of the Department. -, Councillor Waiigh did not think the Chief Health Officer would approve the letter. He be.ieved there was something at the back of it. Councillor Leighton moved, and Councillor Waugh seconded, that the letter be sent to the Minister and to the Chief Health Officer, and that they be asked if they approved the stand taken. Councillor Judd, while condemning the state of affairs at the racecourse, thought the Council should be consistent. At that meeting the Council had an application from a resident to abate a nuisance in -Herbert-street, and shelved it. The Mayor said there was absolutely no comparison "in the two cases. One was surface water and soap-suds and the. other cesspits Councillor Leighton denied that the Council had done nothing in the matter of drainage. It was getting a comprehensive report from Mr. Meason. Councillor Clark hoped the Council would take n, firm stand, and prosecute the offenders if the danger to publio health continued. Ultimately Councillor Leighton's motion was carried, the Mayor adding that if no satisfactory reply was received by next meeting the Council would consider the advisableness of prosecuting.