THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12424, 13 February 1901, Page 4

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

Of course, with an, annual income of some four million pounds, .the London County Council can afford to adopt an extremely progressive public works policy, and once it has decided on the wisdom of a new project the necessary money is speedily forthcoming. Apart from the financial question, however, its .methods and its spirit constitute a splendid example for smaller corporations to set before ihem. Its 138 Mnenrbers occupy no more time at their weekly meetings than do the members of the local City Council. Although the plague is as yet no nearer to Great Britain than Cape Town, the London. Council fully realises the possibility of the disease on troopships and transports generally escaping detection on the voyage fram South Africa or at English ports, and in order to he in a position- to deal promptly with any outbreak that may occur it has decided to spend £50,000 on buildings and hospitals for the reception <of suspected cases. This, of course, is merely one. item in the general programme -of the Council for the protection of the public health, but ft is an excellent illustration of the «v?.nn?r in which this municipal parlia-

ment cairici: out one of its mo.'t impr.'i'Unit duties. Although cur own local todies have control of fund§ ifcat are meagre indeed

compared -with the magnificent income of the London County Council —its gross debt, by the -way, amounts to something like £44,000,000 —they can at least bring the same courage and energy into the execution of their work. Very few of them, for instance, have yet shown any inclination to cany out cither the letter or the spirit of the new Public Health Act. The Mayor of Linwood, at the meeting of-his Borough. Council oh Monday night, spoke as though the administration of the Act was left entirely in the hands of the Government. There could hardly toe a more serious mistake. The. local bodies are still the health authorities-, and their rights and duties in this respect are very clearly set out. The recent experience of the City Council should have helped other municipal bodies to an understanding of the position. Dr Mason, when he was here, 'endeavoured to the scope of the new measure, and the responsibilities of local bodies (have been, frequently referred to in our columns. The failure of the Government to appoint its district experts makes it all tue more necessary for Borough and County Councils to seleofc their own medical' officers. The plagpe scare was undoubtedly of immense benefit' to the colony, 'because it directed public attention so strongly to the 'matter of sanitation; but the precautions taken against the advent of the disease did not leave the colony absolutely clean. Christchurch has a good reputation in this respect, but there is room for considerable improvement, especially in the suburban districts, and we hope that the local bodies will begin to devote more of their attention to this question. It is surely time, too, for the drainage system to be completed'. If the local Drainage Board is moribund or bankrupt, as it eeems to be, or if it has reached the limit of its capabilities, a little public agitation would soon effect a change. We cannot wait for the advent of " Greater Cliristchurch" for all the public improvements we need 1 , and we hope that the ." citizens' awakening" will lead to a, revival of interest in all departments of municipal government.