PUBLIC HEALTH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 65, 11 December 1918, Page 5

PUBLIC HEALTH

THE HOUSING PROBLEM IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF BILL NEW SANITARY ORGANISATION. The Public Health Amendment Bill, as it was finally passed by Parliament yesterday, makes very important changes in the Uw relating to public health. It (fives greatly increased powers to the Public; Health Department in connection with the housing of the people. A Public Health Board is constituted, consisting of tfys Minister of Public Health, the.Chiot'Health Officer, Iho president of the British Medical Association for Aw Zealand, the 'head of tho medical clinic at Otago University, the officer in. charge of local govornment in the Department of Internal Affairs, and iivo nominated members holding office for three years. . It -will be the duly of this board to report to the Ministerfa) Upon methods or developments in national health which in the opinion of the board it is desirable to introduce into New Zealand; (b) Upon any matters concerning the medical service's, on instruction in health matters, suggested amondments in the law, the relation of the Public Health Department to lifcal government authorities, the training of mo'dicnl practitioners, dentists, nurses, and masseurs; and (c) Upon anv other matters in connection with public health referred to it by the Minister. The Minister may set, up district advisory committee to report on such matters as he may refer to it. The district health officers and district, presidents of the Medical Association will be ex oflieio members, the remaining members being nominated by the Minister. Lodging-Houses. Any local authority may establish lodg-ing-houses within or near its own boundaries. The land required for the purpose may be taken under the Public Works Act, 1908, and the money required for the purchase of tho land and the orection and furnishing of the buildings may be raised under the Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1913, by special ordor. The local authority may either let the lodging-houses or itself maintain and administer them. The local authority mny, with the approval of the Minister, make by-laws for the conduct of all such lodging-houses.

Unhealthy Buildings. Upon the certificate of tho district health officer that , any building or part of a building is in a condition unfit for occupation or dangerous to public health, the local authority shall give notice to the owner to pull down the same within the time named in the notice, not exceeding eight weeks. In lieu , of requiring the owner to pull down any insanitary building, tne District health officer may require the owner to liiako structural alterations' or additions to the building or improvements to the sanitary condition's. The owner of the building may appeal to a Magistrate. Tho decision of the Magistrate shall be final, and he shall make such order as to costs as he thinks fit. ■ If any such appeal Is not allowed, or if there is no such appeal, and the owner fails to pull down the building within the time named in the notice, the local, authority shall cause the building to be forthwith pulled down, and may recover from the owner all expenses incurred under this section. If tho local authority fails within two months after notice to take action has been delivered by the district health officer, the. district health officer shall proceed to exercise all the powers conferred on the local authority. Inspection of Building], - Any local authority may make by-lave providing for the inspection of any building before being occupied by a new owner or tena-nt.. The local authority shall appoint a competent inspector' of buildings, whose duty it shall do to inspect every building. The inspector shall report to the local authority ae to the condition or every occupied building in the district, and in particular as to: . Area of land occupied and airspace,, water supply, baths, lavatories, sanitary and hygienic conditions, the name of the owner, the name.and occupation of the occupier, tho number and description of the rooms, the number of persons living in the building, if rented the rental payable, and such other information as may be ordered by the local authority.

Insanitary Areas. The district health officer may report to the local authority and Board of Health .upon the necessity for improving any part of a district under the provisions of Section 293 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1008. If the local authority neglects or refuses to talje action within three months the Board of Health shall hold a public inquiry into the matter. The report of the Board of Health shall be transmitted to the Minister, who shall forward a copy of it to the local authority. The local authority 6hall consider the report of the Board of Health and forward to the Minister its decision vtiieteupon. If the local authority approves the recommendations, of the Board of Health, it shall prooeod with all reasonable' speed to give effect thereto. If the local authority still refuses or neglects for tho period of one year to iproceed continuously thereunder, the Minister may request the Minister of Public Works to carry out the report of the Board of Health at the cost of tho local authority. To give effect to this clause it shalinotbe necessary for the local authority to take a poll of the ratepayers in connection with any loan that may be required. Overcrowding. On and after February 1, 1919, it shall, not be lawful for any person— (a) To take in more than five lodgers ' at any one time for board and residence, either temporary or permanent, unless the promises have been licensed by the local authority in accordance with regulations to J)e made. , ' ft>) To take in a greater number of lodgers as aforesaid than is specified in any such license. ' (c) To let any house or tenement in which" more than one family is to re- ] side, or any room for the occupation of more than two persons, without tho pre* vious approval of the local authority in ' accordance with regulations to bo made. ' Medical Services. On the application by special resolution of any local authority the Minister ; may .provide a resident medical prac- i titioner for the district. The Minister i shall fix the salary and emoluments of j the medical officer, who may hold Gov- < ernment appointments connected with ; public health in the district for which ; he is appointed. I Such medical officer shall charge the i patient for his services through the i local body, provided that in necessitous i cases his services shnll bo freo to the ] patient, i < All fees ipaid for services rendered by the medical officer slinll be payable into the district fund of tho local authority, ] which shall pay the salary of tho medical ; officer either out of the general rate of : the district or by means of a separate rate for the purpose. Any two or more local authorities whoso districts are ad- '■ jacent may combine for tho purposes of ' this section in such manner as they , think fit, and thereupon the provisions of this section slinll apply to tho districts of all such local authorities. Tho ' services of the medical officer shall be available to all friendly societies and : other organisations approved by the Minister on such lerms as he may deter- ; mine. Health Officers. > Tho Minister may require Ihe council i of any borough having a population of more than five thousand to appoint a re- i gistcred medical practitioner as medical : officer and also such sanitary inspectors I as may bo deemed necessary. No such i officer shnll be appointed without tho np- i provnl of the Minister. I No house shall/bo erected or occupied as a dwelling-place unless approved by tho local authority on tho recommendn- . tion of the inspector iindor this Act, who , shall certify to the water supply, baths. , and sanitary conditions, of the property. [ i

Picture Theatres. No picture theatre shall bo opened before the hour of. two o'clock iu the afternoon or. between,the hours of five and seven in the evening of any day. The Minister may, on the recommendation of tho Board of Public Health, establish aiid maintain lecturers, instructors, training classes, gymnasia, and any other mothods in the interests of public health, the cost to bu paid out of moneys appropriated by Parliament. Any local authority may, subject to the approval of the Minister in charge of Hospitals and Charitable Aid, pay out of its ordinary fund such moneys as it thinks fit to such persons ns it thinks fit ■for the assistance and development of any society, organisation, or institution not established for purposes of profit, and whoso object is to promote public health, or for the establishment and maintenance of bursaries to medical or dental students. Compulsory Powers. If any person is found by an inspector to bo living in insanitary conditions and without proper and adequate regard to health, food, and clothing, such person may be ordered by tho district health officer to remove to an institution under the control of a hospital and charitable aid board; and in the event of such person neglecting or refusing to become on inmate of the institution aforesaid, liTi shall be summoned before a Justice of the Peace, who shall make such order as he shall deem fit. Prohibited Dwellings. Any local authority may, and shall when ordered by the district health officer, make by-laws prohibiting the use of houses or any class of rooms therein for human habitation that in Hie opinion of the district health offioor are unfit for such habitation. The powers of a district health officer may be, oonferred on a local authority which is satisfactorily enforcing the law and safeguarding tho public health. The Bill contains many other clauses intended to strengthen the hands of health officers and extend tho power to secure improved housing conditions.