Health Laws

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 45, 24 February 1936, Page 2

Health Laws

AMENDMENTS PROPOSED NEW SOUTH WALES PROBLEMS

SYDNEY, Feb. 5. The New South Wales Government has decided, to tighten up the health laws of the State, to bring them into conformity with’world standards. When Parliament reassembles legislation will be introduced to deal with such important matters as beach pollution and sanitation, slum clearance and pure food.

Officials of the Health Department are investigating the Health Acts of the other States and Great Britain in order to incorporate in the new bill the most modern methods of safeguarding tho health of the people. "The present Public Health Act of New South Wales is not only antiquated," said the Minister for Health, Air. Fitzsimons, when interviewed recently, "but it falls far short of modern requirements so far as public health generally is concerned.’’ It is understood that the bill will place a greater responsibility upon the shire aud municipal councils.

The question of beach pollution un to the present has not been subject to control by the health authorities. It has been a problem for consideration only by the Department of Public Works and the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board. In order that the board might receive the latest information on the treatment of sewage overseas, however, it recently commissioned its medical officer, Dr. Saunders, to visit Great Britain and elsewhere. Dr. Saunders has submitted a report to the board. One method which has found favour with tho board is the erection of treatment plants in the vicinity of the ocean sewage outfalls. The bill shortly to be submitted to Parliament will, it is believed, empower the health authorities to prohibit the pollution of any of tho beaches where the health of the public might be endangered. The existing Public Health Act was passed in 1908, and there has been no substantial amendment made to it since. The most important amendment, made in 1932, related to cremation.