PROPOSED NEW HEALTH DISTRICT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 September 1928, Page 2

PROPOSED NEW HEALTH DISTRICT.

APPROVED OF BY SHANNON f COUNCIL. (Chronicle Special Service.) Chief Inspector .Gardner, of • the , Health Department addressed the Shannon Borough Council on' Tuesday orr the question of Otaki, Levin, Horowhenua County and 'Shannon agreeing to the appointment of a Health Officer to be stationed at Levin. At present Levin and Shannon are served by an inspector from Palmerston North. He said that by the grouping of these local bodies the Inspector would be able to spend more time in this district. It was going to cast a little more to run from Levin than from Palmerston North, which would be between £450 and £SOO per year for'salary and expenses. Of this amount the Department would contribuie one-third, the local authorities paying the remaining two-thirds, which would be assessed on a population basis. At present Shannon paid £29 per year for the Inspee- • tor's services, but for the full service proposed, based at lOd per head of the population, the Shannon Council’s contribution would rise to £4B, but possibly this could be reduced. He wished to know how the Council viewed the proposal for the purpose of bringing it to finality. Cr. Hyde said the service rendered at present was small and cost two to three guineas a visit. He thought it was too much to ask the Council to contribute a further £l9. Unfortunately, the margin between the Council’s revenue and expenditure was small and they had to go carefully. Cr. Spencer: ‘‘That we have not had to call on his services speaks well for Shannon.” He was in agreement with the proposal and the matter of an increase of £l9 was not to be-considered against the health of the people. The Deputy Mayor said Cr. Hyde" was not correct as the Inspector visited Shannon every Tuesday and Thursday. Cr. Curran, jun., said the health of the community had to be considered and he favoured the proposal. Cr. Downes said it. was a matter of £ s d, as every penny told in a small borough. He favoured the proposal as he felt sure the . Department would give them every consideration when making their assessment. The Deputy Mayor asked Mr Gardner if the Department had authority to set aside a group and appoint an inspectors If so, the matter was really out of the Council’s hands. .Cr. Hook wanted to know if an inspector was supposed to carry dirt fumigations himself or give instructions to have it done. The Town Clerk asked if the Council came into the proposal would the Department require them to enter into an agreement for a number of years. Replying, Mr Gardner said he did not think the Department had any statutory right to bind them. But it would only be fair play between the parties to have a binding agreement. As regards the finance he said he had stated that the assessment would be lOd on a population basis, but was authorised to say that, as far as Shannon and Otaki boroughs were concerned, the Department would meet them as far as was fairly possible. lii"this district the Inspector was supposed to do the fumigating himself, or at least be present when it was carried out. In respect to authority the Department had wide powers and could compel the appointment of an inspector if necessity arose, but they had never yet done more than Hvhat was reasonable. # The Deputy Mayor, in thanking Mr Gardner, said he would like him to convey to the Department that the Council were perfectly satisfied with the services rendered, by Mr Huggins, the present inspector;*.;. _ ~ On the motion of Cr. Downes, it was decided to fall in with the Health Department’s proposal for a separate .district, the Inspector to reside in Levin. Mi Gardner, in returning thanks, stressed the fact that the financial burden would be made as light as possible.