THE PANDEMIC

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 228, 20 June 1919, Page 8

THE PANDEMIC

4 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION COMMENTS BY MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH By Talcitraiih—Presj Aeitndatian Christchurch, June 1!). The Hon. G, \Y. Uussell to-day made the following comments oil the eighteen recommendations contained in the report of the Influenza Commission;— (1) and (2) amendment and consolidation of the Public Health Law—The necessity of this is recognised, and after last session, when the emergency Amendment Act was passed, instructions were given to the Crown Law Office to prepare a complete Consolidation Act, and to make all the necessary amendments in last year's Act for presentation to Parliament next session. (3): Kegnlution of prices of equipment, goods, and services for combating epidemics.—ln my evidence I recommended that epidemic clauses should 'be inserted in the Public Health Law for the purpose of giving effect to this proposal. (4).—This is a Commission recommendation which will require careful consideration, as it is not clear what the functions of the,proposed officer aro to he. (5): Appointment of chief sanitary inspector.—Here an utterly, impossible proposal is made, as there would be a conflict between this officer and the Chief Health Officer, who, under the law, has tho entiro responsibility of controlling the public health. Necessarily this officer is a medical man, which could not he anticipated in an inspector, unless, indeed, he were also a medical practitioner.

(G): Clearer definition of relations of medical, sanitary, and administrative officers.—As far back as last April I gavo instructions for a complete reorganisation of the Department on the lines suggested in this clause. A Secretary of Public Health was appointed, having entire control of the lay and official work of the Department, thus leaving the medical. officers free to attend to the medical side of their work. The same policy was carried out at all health offices in New Zealand, a chief sanitary inspector being appointed in each case, whose duty was laid down to be to relieve the district officers of all possible work in order that they might concentrate on the medical side of their duties. Only the want of staff and money has prevented much larger development of the linns stated by me.

(7): Establishment of. educational section.—This also has been in existence for some time, and bulletins havo been issued from tinio to time oy tho Health Department. 1 do think the system requires extension, and it is desirable that a specially-trained and highlyeducated medical officer should bo appointed. His sole duty would be to watch the literature of the day regarding every development in public health, and from time to time the result of his studies and research should bo communicated to the hospital boards, .the public, and tho medical profession through tho medium of tho "Public Health Journal" and special bulletins. With the enormous number of medical men away with the Forces it has been absolutely impossible up to the present to consider this brancn of the service, but now that matters are becoming normal I see no reason why this course should not. be taken. It lias been contemplated ever since I took office as one of tho necessities of the situation.

(B).—The question of the relation of the education system to public health is a matter for the Minister of Education to consider, and the suggestion w ; H be brought before him.

(o).—The establishment of pchool clinics under medical' officers opens up a widfl question. It is undesirable in '»y opinion for a second hospital system to be established under the control of the Education Department ai'ifl independent .of the fine hospital services tho country already possesses. The opinion v.hich 1 hold is that the medical work now being dono by the Uovermnent inspectors of schools should be linked up ivitli tho hospital system, and would 'be fiir r oro efficient than the proposal of the Commission could possibly be. (10): Subsidising organisations like the St., John Ambulance.—Cabinet has already approved of ioOO being set ositio for tho St. John Ambulance. Tbo hospital boards are empowered to grunt subsidies to the same body, and only yesterday I approved of a prooosal of the Otago Hospital Board to give a sub sidy of .£250 to the Dunedin St. John Ambulance. I have instructed the Department to issue circulars to all the hospital boards recommending j.no same course in their districts.

(11).—That cities and large towns with contiguous boroughs and town districts should form local health departments under the supervision of the Govornnnnt Health Department is impracticable. There can be only two authorities: (1) Tho city or the borough council within its area, and (2) the Public Health Department. Tho proposal to give lo the City of Christchurch, which is what it would mean owing to its predominating influence, a. controlling power over Riccnrton, Spreydon, New. Brighton, and other., contiguous towns would never work. Each local body must bo master of its own house. At the same time) it may bo desirable that the supervision of tho Public Health Department should be made closer than it is at present. (13).—Equally impossible is tile proposal that the Health Department should assume control of all public, health matlei's in other boroughs and town districts than the cities and large towns referred to. The Commission evidently does not understand tho determination of the people of this country to have local self-government, and my opinion is that no Government would t'rv to take away the right of these secondary and tertiary boroughs to control their own districts. I, at any rate, would not give any such proposal five minutes' consideration.

dl) and (15) .-These deal with, shipping. During the epidemic advisory committees were set up at the principal ports, and these are still in existence. The assistance' of the waterside workers' unions has been invoked, and the scheiuo is working well. In this matter; 'of course, the Marine Department is also involved, and I hope by joint action of tho two Departments an effective scheme for improvements of the conditions on shipping will be evolved. The necessity for action has long been recognised, and it must be fully a year ago since Dr. Valintine reported to' me that on-ac-count of a ship not. coming within the public health definition of a house the Department had no control over the conditions of vessels. This is one of the matters thai; were noted for improvement some time ago. (10): The housing clause.—This matter was fully dealt with at the Town-plan-ning Conference, and is rather a political question (ban one arising directly out of the epidemic. (17).—The proposal for an international bureau for information is on sound lines, and I doubt not is already under consideration by (he Imperial authorities.

(18).—An annual conference of representatives from all health authorities, boroughs, and counties does not appear to rne to lie necessary. It would involve verv larire expense, and disorganisation of. the various local authorities. I think a better course is for the extension and elaboration of the "Public Health .Tourr.al" as a "vade mecum" as between (lie Government and tho hospital boards and •other authorities.