PREVENTION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16421, 23 April 1919, Page 5

PREVENTION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.

BOROUGH COUNCIL’S POWERS. In dealing with tho question of sanitation, in his annual report, the town clerk of New Plymouth states; For several years past this borough in common with other boroughs throughout New Zealand has been very much handicapped in its efforts to check tho spread of infectious diseases by the unsatisfactory position of tho law in regard to this matter. Whilst tho public in general look to tho Borough Council to safeguard tho health of those residing within tho borough’ by taking steps to prevent tho spread of'infectious diseases, tho council has in reality very little power in regard to tho matter, and what little power it has is so restricted by'continual references to other authorities as to bo of no practical value. Tho local authority charged with the responsibility of preventing or checking the, spread of infectious diseases in this district is tho Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

This Board controls a district extending from Opunake to Awakino and inland beyond Inglewood. Comprised in this district are the boroughs of New Plymouth, Inglewood, and Waitara, tho town district of Opunake, besides a largo number of _ villages and a vast area of country districts. For tho whole of this largo area the board has ono inspector. However competent their inspector may be it must bo obvious to everyone that it is an utter impossibility for him to satisfactorily discharge throughout such a largo district the important dutios placed upon him. Recognising this the Borough Council in the past had to fall back upon the powers conferred upon it by “iho Municipal Corporation Act,” and by its own by-laws. In consequent there were two inspectors part of whoso duties were almost identical working in the borough. Each, however, worked under entirely different powers, and each was controlled by a different local authority. This lead to overlapping and confusion, and really nothing else could bo expected.

The matter was considered by the council on several occasions, and in 1917 I recommended that an agreement should bo arranged with the Taranaki Hospital Board upon the lines of that obtaining in the City of Auckland, where the council’s inspector would hold a direct appointment from tho Government Health Department, and should be responsible for all matters respecting public health within tho borough boundaries. Tho recommendation appealed both to tho council and to tho Hospital Board, and after a conference in March, 19)8, an agreement was finally arrived at and submitted to tho Health Department for confirmation. Conferences wore hold with the District Health Officer and with the Chief Health Officer, tho latter intimating that ho could not seo his way to recommend the department to confirm tho agreement. Tho same unsatisfactory condition of affairs therefore still exists.

Tho prospect of arriving at a satisfactory arrangement in regard to tho matter has, however, since been much improved by the passing last session of tho “Public Health Amendment Act 1918.” Section 2S of which apparently authorises the. Minister of Public Health to make an arrangement upon the lines previously indicated. It would bo well therefore, for the council to make a further effort during the coming year.

Tho Act quoted also greatly extends the power of the council in regard to matters of public health, and has removed some of the difficulties that councils previously laboured under.