TYPHOID AT GISBORNE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 455, 13 March 1909, Page 3

TYPHOID AT GISBORNE.

• NEED OF A THOROUGH CLEAN-UP. Under tho heading "Dirty Gisborno," the Gisborne "Times" publishes a special article on the need of a thorough clean-up in tho borough on account of tho prevalence of typhoid fe\er. One gentleman expresses himself thus:— "What I should like to seo is the appointment of a local health officer. Wo should have someone hero whoso duty it would be to visit tho business premises and household dwellings of tho town and suburbs, and give personal advice to tho residents upon sanitary methods. Surely, thero is amongst our local medical men someone who would undertake this work? I keep my own place as clean as I can, but it is quite possible that if a sanitary expert called in ho could , show me how I could, in a simplo manner, avoid some vital orrors that I may bo making at the present timo." The Borough' Council discussed the matter on fhe following ovening, when some of tho councillors objected to tho bold headlines used by tho paper, but tho council was of opinion that something had to be done. Dealing editorially with the question, the "Times" says: — "There are certain facts which cannot be ignored, ami with 28 patients lying in the public hospital from typhoid fever it is no time for hiding behind smooth phrases and empty compliments the true position. Judged by tlio ordinary methods of comparison, Gisborno must bo looked upon as a dirty town. Very few of the business promises or private residences have any drainage, tho bulk of tho houses have no baths, the use of anti-soptins is almost unknown, a largo proportion of tho population lives on the edge of rivers, from the mud fiats of which issues a fearful stench during tho greater part of the 24 hours."