PUBLIC HEALTH ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17094, 25 February 1919, Page 6

PUBLIC HEALTH ACT.

DUAL ADMINISTRATION.

LOCAL BODIES' POSITION. ,

WIDER POWERS DESIRABLE.

Discussing tho administrative relations between local bodies and the Public Health Department, as defined in tho Public Health Act, the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, eta ted at yesterday's sitting of the Epidemic Commission that at present there was a dual control between the Health Department and the municipality, and, as a result, there was 'considerable overlapping. Either the Health Department should have the control and responsibility, or wider powers should be given to the local authority. The Act required that if a. certain thing had to be done the district health officer must request the local body to carry the work out. Under the present system they had the Health Department and the municipality I frequently dealing with the same quesI tion. If the Government was not prepared to placo tho responsibility on the local bodies the solo control should bo given to the Health Department. There should be more direct action, either on tho part of tho Health Department itself or on the part of tho local authority. The Act should be amended. Personally, ho favoured the enlargement of the powers of a local authority. Giving evidenco- in regard to the samo matter, Mr. J. Stanton, the city solicitor, i made a lengthy statement in respect to the general and legal position of local bodies in connection with public health administration. The greater portion of Mr. Stanton s statement comprised a report presented to tho City Council at its last I meeting, and fully reported in the ! Herald. Mr. Stanton contended that a thorough reconsideration of the provisions ol the Public Health Act was necessarv. Where a local authority was pi veil powers ; in respect of public health, it should bo empowered to exercise those powers at every stage without having either to ask j for, or to abide by, the decision of the district health officer. Witness said he quite agreed that the district health officer should be empowered to act in default of the local authority doing so The present system of divided control, doubtful initiative and joint responsibility could be productive only of unsatisfactory results. Such powers as the local authority should have should he conferred by i statute, and not at the caprice of a Minister.