SANITARY PROBLEMS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1935, Page 7

SANITARY PROBLEMS

FACTS ON INFECTIOUS DISEASE. INSTITUTE SUB-BRANCH MEETS. Four lecturettes on important aspects of public health and the infection of diseases were delivered yesterday at the inaugural proceedings of the New Plymouth sub-branch of the Royal Sanitary Institute. Representatives were present from Taranaki towns and from Wanganui and Wellington. The chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board. Mr. P. E. Stainton, presided. ■' The speakers were Mr. F. Swindells, inspector of health (New Plymouth); Dr. R. A. Shore, M. 8., Chß., D.P.H., inspector of hospitals (Wellington); Mr J. Hill Motion, B.Sc. (Agric.), M.R.C.V.S. (New Plymouth); Dr Mary Champtaloup, M. 8., Chß., D.P.H., medical .officer of health (New Plymouth). All the lectures proved extremely interesting and an invitation for informal discussion was taken full advantage of in the afternoon.

Opening the meeting the chairman said those connected with public health could not do otherwise than appreciate the necessity for sanitation in the commun. ity. The question was not only interest-, ing but vitally important and he was glad to see such cordial co-operation and concentration between the departments in whose province it was. The birth of the Royal Sanitary Institute was in 1876, continued Mr. Stainton. It was founded by a few enthusiasts with vision, but it had to go through the fire of ridicule of criticism. -At New Plymouth the year 1876 was memorable for seeing the beginning of Pukekura Park. A small hand of far-seeing people arranged to have the . area now known as Pukekura Park spt aside as a preserve. Then it was only a with no beauty at all; but the small band .plodded on. wjth the work, planted, dug and - cultivated with the result that New. Plymouth possessed a park of which il might well be proud. ' , In the same way the Sanitary Institute had' grown in spite of great obstacles. The requirements and necessity for publih hygiene were appreciated only in recent years, and tl\e community owed a heavy debt ,to the original enthusiasts. To their organisation much credit must be attached that the importance of public health was being considered. As a member of two public 'bodies Mr. Stainton said he sincerely appreciated the efforts of the Department of Health for bringing the community to a state of fitness. New Plymouth, he believed, was the first sub-branch formed outside the four main centres of New Zealand, and he hoped it would become a strong organisation.

Mr. Stain ton thanked Dr. Shore for his zeal and far-sighted policy and the Department of Health for allowing its executive, officers. to attend the proceedings at New Plymouth. Welcoming the visitors, he wished them success in their deliberations and hoped they would have time to experience some of the hospitality the town offered.

Mr. R. Day, chief borough inspector, thanked Mr. Stainton for his attendance. He took the chair when Mr. Stainton was called away.