MODERN SEWERAGE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12024, 30 December 1924, Page 4

MODERN SEWERAGE

AND NEW ZEALAND OOtINTBY TOWNS. AUSTRALIAN HEALTH OFFICER’S TESTIMONY. Dr J. H. L. Cumpston, DirectorGeneral of Health of the Commonwealth of Australia, is at present in Welling ton on his return journey from Great Britain. Dr Cumpston left Australia in July last, and has visited England, France, and America for the purpose of 'studying the* health organisation and systems of public health administration in those countries. The Federal Government of Australia has appointed a Royal Commission to revise the existing system of publio health in order to bring it into line with the most modem developments in this field. Arriving from America a few weeks ago, Dr Cumpston has spent the intervening time in making himself conversant with the health methods adopted in this country. During his stay in Wellington he has thoroughly inquired into the details of the activities of our Health Department. On arrival from the United States, be stayed several days at Auckland, and then visited some of the smaller towns, such as Hamilton, Napier, New Plymouth, and Palmerston North. He pursued his inquiries in these places and in the adjoining country districts because of tbe similarity of the conditions in and problems confronting the health authorities in Australia and New Zealand in respect to dealing with the smaller towns and country districts. “The Federal Health Department in Australia,” explained Dr Cumpston to a “Times” reporter, “is not concerned with hospital administration; and matters of interest to New Zealand in that field are more the concern of the State Governments. It u difficult, also, to compare the conditions in New Zealand with those of America in regard to certain deDartments of health. For example, in New Zealand the care of the health of infants has been developed to a very high degree, but necessarily on a somewhat different Joasis from that which has heen found most useful in America. Dr Truby King has been very good in showing me the methods of the working of the Plunket Society in all its activities. “I have“heen struck with tbe extent to which country towns in New Zealand are equipped with modern sewerage systems. In this respect they ai* in advance of the conditions in Australia,” remarked Dr Cumpston. “and. naturally,” he “in view of the importance of the primary industries to New Zealand, the supervision of tho milk supplies and of dairy products is very complete.” Dr Cumpston, who is accompanied by Mrs Cumpston. left for Melbourne via the south by the Mocraki vesterdav.