PUBLIC HEALTH IN N.Z.

Southland Times, Issue 24211, 22 August 1940, Page 8

PUBLIC HEALTH IN N.Z.

Provisions Of Act Extended OBLIGATIONS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 21. The provisions for the protection of the public health in New Zealand are considerably extended by an amendment to the Health Act which was introduced in the House of Representatives today. Important provisions in the Bill are the obligations placed on local authorities to provide sanitary works and quarantine for aircraft, and the power to introduce regulations to give greater control over drain laying and other matters, bette. control over infectious diseases and special provisions as to pulmonary tuberculosis. The clause dealing with the obligations of local authorities to provide sanitary works provides that the obligation to comply with any requisition issued by the Board of Health shall not be limited by absence of legislative authority. Local authorities shall be deemed to have the power to carry out such work in accordance with the requisition. While any regulations are in force j prescribing the qualifications required by sanitary inspectors no such inspectors can be appointed unless there is proof of qualification. The requirements for the issuing of closing orders in respect of insanitary premises are | slightly amended so that such orders 1 must be served on the occupier and owner, except when the owner is not in the country and has no agent here. In such cases the occupier is to be deemed to be acting for the owner.

OFFENSIVE TRADES The establishment of any offensive trade within the district of any local authority, or any extension of such trade is prohibited unless the written authority of the local authority and the medical officer of health is given. The control of persons suffering from infectious diseases is extended to persons who are carriers, or suspected carriers of such diseases. The quarantine provisions are to apply to aircraft and to persons and goods carried by aircraft in the same manner in which they apply to shipping, and any aerodrome, or part of an aerodrome may be declared a place of inspection for aircraft. The medical examination of children attending public schools is to be extended to private schools if the controlling authorities of such schools apply for examination. The Bill provides for the making of regulations governing drain-laying, the disposal of the dead and the prescribing of fees to be paid for registrations. The statutory list of infectious diseases is extended to include venereal disease and, unless declared so by warrant, pulmonary tuberculosis is not deemed to be an infectious disease. The Bill was read a first time, a second time pro forma and was referred to the Health Committee.