MORE DEVOLUTION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1129, 17 May 1911, Page 3

MORE DEVOLUTION.

—— t HEALTH INSPECTION. HOSPITAL HOARDS EESPOXSIBLE. "As (ho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board has (0 deal with the disease of the district, it would seem wise that they should also have, power to control the prevention of disease." These were (he opening words of a communication from (ho .Medical Superintendent of the Wellington Hospital (Dr. Hardwicko Smith) in reporting to tho Hospital Board yesterday on tho question of public health inspection. Continuing, he pointed out that in order to afford this opportunity u clause had been placed in the new Hospital Act providing that tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards shall, in their own districts, take over the work of investigation and prevention of infectious disease, and appoint qualified inspectors for tho purpose. He therefore recommended that two men bo appointed as inspectors for the. whole of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid district to deal with matters pertaining to infectious disease, and that tho board allow any local area except the city, l'ctone, and Lower Hutt Borough Councils to appoint either of the above, to bo inspectors of nuisances under the local governing Act, payment for such services to bo agreed upon by tho board and tho local area with tho advice of the Department of Public Health, the inspectors to take over the duties at present being carried out by any inspector under the Department or Tublic Health. Tho inspectors appointed should be cither certificated, oi* men of experience, tho appointment to be preceded by three months probation, and the salary paid fo each inspector to commence at ilSo, with .£SO travelling allowance. The Health Department, further, should bo asked to take over the control of these officers as they have all the facilities for that purpose at thendisposal. Monthly reports of the investigations of each ease.should bo sent to tho board by the inspectors, and a copy of tho report to be sent to the District Health Officer. "The above suggestions" concluded tho Medical Superintendent, "appear to me to be tho iriost efficient and the most economical. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board is expected by tho Act to appoint inspectors to deal with infectious diseases, but I would suggest that tho time. is not ripe for the board to undertake the whole responsibility of this work. That is the reason I have made the above suggestion that the Department be asked to control your officers for the present. At present tho population of the district docs not warrant the appointment of a qualified medical health officer. Also, before such appointment could be made, fresh legislation would he required; for at present the only medical officers endowed with statutory powers are the district health officers under the Public Health Act." The hoard, on the recommendation of its Public Health Committee, , decided to invite applications for two inspectors at a salary of ,£lßo and travelling expenses for the other officers of the board, and to ask the Public Health Department to control tho inspectors in terms of tho Medical Superintendent's suggestions. The Rev. W. A. Evans (chairman of the board) explained that in view of certain urgent representations which had been mado by Dr. I'reugley, District Health Officer, lie had, on his own responsibility, arranged for tho appointment 01 a temporary inspector (Mr. S. S. Reed) from day to day, at Bs. per diem, pending the appointment of the inspectors. Dr. I'rengley had drawn his attention to tho fact that the number of infectious ease.; reported for the last period was 130, as against 78 for the corresponding period of tho previous year, and thero was urgent need for inspection. Mr. li. Fletcher thought Bs. per day was a sum to pay for such responsible services. TIIO chairman said that the man had been willing ts act at ,£2 per week. "That's no argument," replied Mr. I'letcher. "I admit that," said tho chairman. "The committee gave him more than he asked," he added, in extenuation. Mr. Fletcher moved that the rate be altered to 10s. This was seconded and carried..