THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 121, 23 May 1902, Page 2

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES. In response to rho in pit at ion of the Mayor o* Nels v, l.he following representatives of Ibe local bodies in the Nelson district met Dr Mason, Chief Health \ Officer, in conference at the City Council : Chambers at. 11 o'clock this morning; — I Messrs Piper (Chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board;, Talbot ( vfayor of Richmond^, Wratt (Mayor of Wotueka), and Was'n«y (Chairman of (he Waimea County Council). Dr Mackie, of the Nehon Hospital, was also present. The Mayor (Mr 11. Baigent), who stated that he had been-askod to- act for the Colling wood County Council, was in the chair, and »aid the mooting had been called at the instigation of Dr jdason with reference to the nrgent necessity of arrant- id » for the erection of a hospital for infectious diseases, The matter, in his opinion, was one which ought to have their earnest att ntion, and he felt that they ought to give Dr Mason their utmost B npport. Under the Public Health Act, 1900, the Department had great' power i s n the matter of erection of huspitala for infectious diseases, but Dr Mason had no wish to oxevci3O that power, and would rather consult with the local bodies. Ho sincerely hoped that the j matter wonld be taken up l>y the gentle- \ men representing the local bodies aud (bat they would fall in with the Chi f Health Officer's iduaa. There had lately been a g od deal of sickn S3 in No'son, and he had done his beet to ascertain the cause, and bare steps taken to prevent its spreading, but infectious diseases had sprung up iv parts* of the city quite dis tant from one another. Ha had always advocated a separato building for infections diseases, and seeing there we^e so many ca3es be (.houuht the matter should have been attended to long before lbs. It was Dr Main's intention to try and induce the local bodies to have the matter taken in hand at once The selection j ■cf ~'*es bad in other places been left entiio.y to the Chief Health Officer, and he thought he (Dr Mason) ought to be allowed to fix theirs. Tho Mayor of Nelson then submitted the following resolutions to the meeting.- — (1.) That there is urgent necessity for a general hospital for infectious diseases. (2).) Th»t the Chief Health Officer be asked to exercise the poweis vested in him- under sections 37 and 38 of tbe Pub--1 c Health Act, T9QO. (3.) That the basis and area of contributions be tbe same as that of present, hospital and charitable area. Dr Mason, Chief Health Officer, said that the Mayor had put the matter very clearly. As to the necessity of patting 1 up a hospital, for infections diseases, he bad spoken, to many citizens and all had thought it ought to be done.. What he wanted was that they should join hands in this matter and get it fixed as speedily as possible. The crux of the whole situation would be the question of site, and he thought it might be left entirely to somo outside person, Infections diseases, he said, should not be treated in a general hospital, and a place should be selected wbero each diseases as scarleb fever, I measles, plague, and smallpox would be isolated. With regard to plague there 1 was, he said, less fear of infection from plague than from ecarlet fever. In reply to & question from Mr Talbot Dr Mason stated that the plague, as they all knew, from the experience of other places, if it came, wenjd pomme c at the Port, and as all the local bodies wore deriving benefit from the Port hel< hought they should assist in helping to seep the plague out and the expense should be shared Unfortnntely, he said, oar country was as big ac England, bat the frfcole pppalation was equal to only that of saoh citiPs as Glasgow, or Liverpool. Bat our health was just as dear to us as theirs was to them. In reply to Mr "Wratt Dr Mason stated that be thought about .£2OOO would cover the whole cost of a suitable hospital, and. the Government, would have to pay a half. Prom figures which, had been prepared by the Tor n Cleak a tax of one-tenth of a penny on the" whole of the diHrrict would produce .£IOCO. Mr Talbot asked if it would be necessary to appoint a permanent medical officer to the proposed hospital, Di Mason said that at present it ivould not be necessary to appoint a resident man. At first-, a matron, with nurses, would only be needed, and on occasion when required a medical man could go. With regard to smallpox, Dr Mtson said that if once it got ■< footing it would take a great< hold in this colony, and in answer to a question from Mr Talbot, he stidthab to present infection, persons attending i upon patients with this disease must be vaccinated, and that the patients must be kept in a place away trom a general hospital on account t-f the Very infections nature of (he disease. j The Mayor (Mr Balgent) said Dr | Mason had given a very lucid explanation of > the requirements, and stated that .£2OOO seemed a large amount of money. Still, if it cost twice os much, the hospital should be c ected. Mr Talbot then mored that this meet- J ing affirms the urgent necessity for a general hopital for infectious diseases, j This was seconded by Mr Wastnoy, and carried. I The Maynr (Mr H. Baigent) representing the Collins wood County Council, I moved that tbe Chief Health Officer be asked to exercrse the powers vested in him under sections 37 and 38 of the Pablio Health Act, 1900. Mr Wratt seconded the motion, which was carried. The Mayor of Nelson said that in reference to tbe question of site it had hitherto been left; to the Chief Health Officer, and thought it would be wise to leave tho matter in bis hands, Dr Mason briefly thanked the Confer- j ence for their attendance, and the ConferencG'tenninated. Witn regard to, the cost of the proposed hospi al to the va-iotrs districts, an ap? proximte estimate of 1-lOthof Id ma'ie by n^F QuUy. the Town Clerk, is as fol r Inns '— \

Waimea .. .. Nelson . . . . 34^ 06lKa£yroocl „ „ IJfS j Bichmond . . . . 3(5 | Motueka .. .. 33