HEALTH CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 111, 20 May 1901, Page 3

HEALTH CONFERENCE.

CONSULTATION WITH DR, VALENTINE.

EXTENDED HEALTH DISTRICT.

Ox Saturday evening, a number of representative gentlemen interviewed Dr. Valentine, the sanitary expert, at the Borough Council Chambers. The Mayor (Mr Townley) presided, and there yvere also present: Cr Hepburn, Lysnar, Whin ray, .Morrison, and Jones; Mr Matthews, Chairman of the Whataupoko lload Board ; Mr G. Matthewson, Chairman of the Kaiti lload Board; Messrs D. M. Orr, Whataupoko Road Board ; F. Harris and A. F. Bridges, Kaiti Road Board ; R. Johnston, Hospital Trustee ; 11. ,1. Little, Inspector of Nuisances ; and R. D. B. Robinson, Town Clerk.

The Mayor said that the meeting was an informal one, to consider tho subject of an extended health district. Dr Valentime had been over the suggested district. At a meeting of the public a few days ago, it was suggested that there should be a health area, including AVhataupoko and Kaiti; the Council and two Road Boards might agree to tho formation of one Board to control an extended area. They would be glad to hour what the representatives of the Road Boards had to say. It scenic-d to him that they would certainly require more stringent and effective control than at present. [Cr AVhinray:

Hear, hoar.] The district proposed would comprise n larger area than that of many boroughs, but each part was so closely associated —only the river dividing them—that there would be better control under one Board. —(Applause.) Mr Matthewson said that speaking for himself as Chairman of the lvaiti Board, and as far as he could for the members, though ho could not speak for them individulally, he was strongly in favor of the proposal.

Mr Matthews said he would like to hear the Doctor's opinion on health matters generally. There was power to have an extended area, and there would never be effective control until it was under one body. What that control should be ho had his own ideas, but did not know whether that was the.proper time to give expression to them. Like Mr Matthewson lie was hardly in a position to speak for the Board —there was a majority present —but they know his own foclings in the matter.

Cr Lysnar (who is also a member of the AVhritaupoko Hoad Board), said that, speaking for that body, ho would strongly support any proposal for it to be brought in with the Gisborne district for health purposes. That had got to come, and the present was an opportune time for it. Mr Orr quito agreed with Mr Lysnar. lie would, he said, be glad to have the Doctor's report to consider. As for rubbish. he thought it would bo better to havo it conveyed from Whataupoko to the depot, and not be left on that side. 110 hoped that the Whataupoko would be able to retain its good name as one of the healthiest suburbs in Gisborne, and he would do all be could towards that end.

The Mayor said he supposed the Doctor could take it that tho road boards were favorable to such an extended area as after having looked over it lie would re-

commend Mr Lysnar : That is so.

The Mayor : So far the Council has not boon consulted—there arc only four here to-night. In reply to Cr .Tones, Dr. Valentino said he was satisliod that the Act was quito clear that tho extended district could be legally made to include part only of the county

Dr. Valentine said he was very glad of having this opportunity of mooting the members of the respective local bodies, because he was positive that in the interests of the inhabitants of Gisborne and suburbs, it was absolutely imperative that the sanitary arrangements of the district should be under one control. That had been borne out by his own observations, and particularly with regard to coping with disease it was essential that tlioro should bo one sanitary district. If Gisborne took sanitary precautions and one of the suburbs did not, tho precautions in tho borough wore in a largo manner rendered practically valueless. Such a step was imperative, especially in tlio face of a grave infectious disease. Section -15. of the Municipal Corporations Act, gave tho power to make the district. The Governor could, on the recommendation of the District Health Officer, proclaim any district one sanitary area, and his (Dr Valentine's) recommendation to them was to lose no time in forming one united sanitary district. (Applause). That statement was borne out by the returns of infectious diseases, lie had boon looking up these returns ; lie did not want to pose as tin alarmist, but ■must say that those returns formed subject matter for very serious consideration —lie found that the existence of infectious diseases was much graver hero than in other towns in tho colony. Ho went on to deal with tho record. There bad boon *l9 deaths from infantile diarrhoea, which always ran conjointly with typhoid, and if there was one disease more than another : by which they could guage the sanitary arrangements of a district it was by tho deaths from infantilo diarrheua. He would not worry them with statistics, but wished to impress upon them the necessity of having the sanitary arrangements of the district placod under one control. 110 was glad to sec they were all in accord in the matter. He considered it necessary to include Messrs Kelson Bros, '.•freezing works in the area, and before he left would have liked a sanitary area agreed upon. Mr Matthewson: Why not simply make it the borough and two road districts

Mr Matthews said that would not take in the freezing works, which was in tho Taruhern road district. Ho could sond . down by AA r edncsday’s mail a tracing of the area desired by Dr Valentine. Dr Valentine That would do very v well. Mr Matthewson said that he would vouch for his Board agreeing to anything tin reason. They were an intelligent body

of men. Mr Lysnar : There is a majority of the Board here now. Dr Valentine : AVe want to include tho Kaiti beach. Mr Mathewson said lie wanted to see that included in the Borough by and bye. Tho area took in all those shanties ?

The Mayor: Yes Dr Valentino: It is very imperative that we get thou? in. A voice : Have you seen “ Soapy Tom ” ? (Laughter.’) Dr'Valentine ; Oh, yes, I have been to him. (Laughter.) Mr Mathewson said there was a public road along the beach, but it had not been proclaimed. The Mayor said that if it was agreed thero should be one district a few chains either way would not matter. They might take a straight line from the Tarulicru freezing works to the beach ; half a mile or so would not matter. In reply to Cr Jones, the Mayor said that the Doctor had visited the proposed cemetery site, of which he approved. The Doctor had been most energetic in going round to make himself acquainted with all matters connected with sanitation, and he (the Mayor) hoped that the report would have a very good effect. The report would be awaited with much interest, so that they might know what to do. Mr Mestayer’s report would give them something to go on—it might open their eyes. Dr Valentino said he would make a point of seeing Mr Mestaver. Cr Lysnar said they would like to hear any hints the Doctor might be able to give in regard to sanitary matters. “ There is no doubt,” said tbo Doctor, with emphasis, “ that to thoroughly copo with the existing condition of things in your borough, you will have to embark on a water and drainage scheme. (Hear, hear.) I do not see any possible way out of it. I do not know how costly it may be —that is not my affair.” Mr Mathewson : An efficient scheme. Dr Valentine : Yes. It was, he continued, certain that they had a great amount of infectious disease here, and it was obviously his duty to recommend them to embark bn soine such scheme to cqpe'with it. He saw no other way out of tho trouble than for them to have a water and drainage scheme. In the meantime, however, a good deal might be Stained by efforts of the authorities and

by individual effort on the part of the inhabitants.

11 As far as the inhabitants are concerned,” said the Doctor, “ there seems to be no effort. The individual inhabitant does not seem to care twopence about his sanitary arrangements.” Continuing, the Doctor said that unfortunately he had not been able to stay as long as he should like, but they could easily understand that as this Department had only recently been formed and that Ithe local bodies had awakened to the need of looking into their sanitary arrangements, Dr Mason and himself were kept very busily engaged. He received telegram after telegram, to which he could not attend, and among other places that lie had to go to as soon as he could were Taranaki (to meet the Education Board there), AVanganui, Hunterville, Carterton, and many other places. He had simply to do the best he could under the circumstances. “ I think a good deal may be done by the inhabitants and the corporation before the water and drainage scheme is in vogue—they may take more advantage of the means at their disposal,” said Dr. A r alentinc. He went on to show the scientific progress of things from primitive days, and to explain how the animalculae did their work in decomposing and disintegrating anything foul. In this they were asisted by the air and tho sunlight, and so what was foul was got rid of. 1 These organisms were in the soil in 1 tremendous number. In 17 grains of J earth 750,000 to 950,000 organisms had 1 boon found, and these did their work on 1 the various excreta. Take a familar ex- 1 ample, a pat of cowdung. If they took ] the trouble to observe they would find * that in three days it was generally done ' with excepting for a dry substance. Eight J different animalculae had been at work * on it, beginning with the ordinary garden c worm and tho various moths and their [ Continued on fourth page.