DRASTIC LAWS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 141, 11 December 1918, Page 3

DRASTIC LAWS

FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH

MEASURE SLIGHTLY MODIFIED

Somewhat to the surprise of members of the House of Representatives, it is believed, the Public Health Bill was passed by the Legislative Council yesterday. Amendments were made, it is true, but they left the Bill still an enactment of 3, drastic nature. The principal amendments were the rejection of the clauses providing for a scheme of housing in j colonies, the postponement till Ist July, 1919 of the operation of provisions against overcrowding, and the rejection of the clause prohibiting the use of houses as dwelling-places unless approved by the District Health Officer. The Bill in its final form still contains a, | number of notable provisions, such as the followng : —Establishment of Public Health Board; provision of lodging houses'; strengthened provisions against unhealthy buildings; measures for the improvement of insanitary areas, and for the prevention of overcrowding; the appointment of sanitation committees; appointment of medical officers; restriction as to theatres; and added powers of inspectors. The second reading debate was continued after The Post went to press yesterday. ■ The Hon. John Barr thought the medical service should be nationalised. He favoured dropping the housing clause, as there was insufficient time to consider it properly. The Hon. W. H. Triggs said the proper function of the Health Department was to prevent epidamies by educating the public, and by studying conditions thoroughly. He hoped the Bill would be followed by the reorganisation of the Department and "the appointment of a scientific expert who would be able to devote the" whole of his energies arid those of his staff to devising schemes to prevent infection reaching New Zealand from overseas, arid preparing propaganda for the educaton of the public. Tlie local bodies had been found wa-nt-I ing. They had failed to pay attention to overcrowding andi sanitory conditions. Educated public opinion wa3 all that would compel them to take action. The Hon. C. H. Izard considered that the Bill was good in parts, and dealt with the scheme of housing as it should have bceu dealt with long ago. The second reading was agreed to. COMMITTEE STAGE. The Bill was taken in Committee. The Public Health Board constitution was altered by inserting "Dean of the Faculty of Medicine" in place of "Professor of Hygiene." Sir Francis Bell Eaid the housing proposal was extending powers to the county councils and town boards, which were previously extended only to municipal corporations. He proposed to strike out the reference to a central hotwater system for each group of houses, but he thought the laundry and other provisions should be rotained. The Hon. J. Barr said the conditions in Glasgow, which had been referred to, were complotely different from those here and the need was different. Sir Francis Bell: Very well, I will drop the clause. Members: No, no. It's a good clause. Sir Francis Bell appeared to assent. "Oh, then I must give further reasons," said Mr. Barr. 'I've cancelled my passage and I'm going to stay and see this thing through." Tho clause was postponed and considered again at a la-ter stage, when Sir William Hall-Jones suggested that tho essential portions of the clause should be retained. The Hon. H. F. Wigram thought it would be better to abandon tho clause and have a fully-considered town-plan-ning measure brought down next session. Sir Francis Bell said it was evident that the Council wae not in agreement on the clause, and he thought it would be unfair to proceed with it at this late hour of the session. The clause was withdrawn. PREVENTING OVERCROWDING. On clause 13 (preventing overcrowding in houses) the Hon. John Barr said there must bo care taken before these provisions were enforced to see £fiat there was room for the people to go elsewhere. In Glasgow at first they made the mistake of creating new crowded areas while they abolished others. Sir Francis Bell moved to have tho operation of the clause postponed till Ist July, 1919, instead of Ist February, in order to give time to make provision as desired. This was agreed to.

An amendment by Mr. Barr to postpone the operation of tho clause till 1921 was rejected on the voices.

"MISCELLANEOUS."

When the Committee came to consider the clauses . labelled "Miscellaneous," many of which amended the Public Health Act without giving particulars, Mr. Barr said he wished to have the clauses explained. "We are being dragged by the nose by the Minister of Health, and we want to know where we are going."

Sir Francis Bell explained that clause 20 provided the right of entry for an inspector to any room other than a bedroom of a house. Mr. Ban-; Then an Englishman's house is no longer his own. It belongs to the community, which has tho right to appoint an inspector to inspect it. Sir Francis Bell: Don't you think it is necessary? Mt. Barr: I raise no objection so long as we know wliat we are doing. • Cla.use 23 (house not to be used as a dwelling place unless approved by District Health Officer) was struck out. Sir Francis Bell said this power of approval by its own officers already rested with borough?. It - was intended to ■ make some provision for counties also, but the clau3e as framed did not exactly meet tho case. In reply to the Hon. George Jones, . Sir Francis Bell said there was power already to see that picture theatres were ventilated during the hours they were closed to the public. • The mandatory section of the clause relating to by-laws prohibiting the use of houses was struck out. "You cannot order a legislating body to make bylaws," said Sir Francis Bell. By an amendment of the clause Telating to medicai services it was provided that the charging for sen-ices of a resident medical practitioner should be in the hands of the local authority. By an amendment to clause 30, it was provided that the Minister 'might delegate to'a local authority the powers conferred on Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards as well as those conferred on the District Health Officer. The Bill as amended was passed.