THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14629, 15 March 1911, Page 8

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

PREVENTION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

A long letter from the Health Department was read at the. meeting of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board last evening. It recapitulated and explained in detail the provisions of the recently passed Public Health Act. Under this measure the Hospital Board was made responsible for the notification, of infections diseases, and their prevention. It is now proposed that instead of the Hospital Board appointing it«, own inspectors, they should make an annual contribution to the Health Department for the purpose. Dr. Valintine explained the scheme at some length, and pointed out that there would not bo any overlapping, and the whole scheme made for the prevention of the spread of disease.

Dr. Guinness said the scheme was no doubt A good one, but it should be remembered that the rates would bo increased.

The Chairman (Mr. P. M. Mackay) expressed the opinion that the question of increased rating was something of a bogey. The amount of £314 10s was not a heavy rate on property valued at something liko £20,000,000. It was, he thought, the First time in the history of the- city that "the Health Department and the Hospital •Board were found hand in hand. He thought the proposition would make for the health* of the whole community, and he moved that the Health Department be requested to take over the work devolving upon the Board under the Public Health Act, and that the Board should undertake the payment of its share of the cost.

The motion, after discussion, was agreed to.