PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 385, 3 September 1869, Page 3

PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.

( Condensed from Hansard.)

Mr. Eox, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said it provided lor the establishment of local quarantines in the Colony in such cases similar to those of smallpox which had broken out curing the past year in a certain district in this .Province: It appeared, according to the old law, that Magistrates establishing quarantines, were acting on their own responsibility, and in volved themselves in considerable liabili - ties. This Bill was merely giving local powers to enable such precaution to be taken as might be necessary to cheek the spread of contageous diseases, and contained provision for the appointment of local Boards of various kinds, who should report the existence of contageous or infectious diseases to the Colonial Secretary. Mr. O’Neill would support the second reading of the Bill, as he thought it was very much required. The principle of the Bill seemed to be to empower lo t al boards

to enforce regulations in case of diseases occurring. Too much attention could not he given to so important a subject as the public health, and as cleanliness forms so prominent a part in the preservation of health, no measures could he too severe, no surveillance too despotic, in enforcing sufficient cleanliness, especially in towns. It was well known the rate of mortality was at present very high, which he thought was attributable to tiro want of proper drainage, want of ventilation, aud absence of pure water. Corporations should undertake the duty of maintaining a complete system of sewerage, and a constant supply of pure water, and should also look to the state of the dwelling houses. Too much attention could not bo paid to the latter point. Since the passing of the Public Health Act, in England, in 1848, sanitary improvements began with vigor, so much so that in the course of ten years a sum of about eight millions had been spent in England alone in improving the health, comfort and cleanliness of the people, aud the consequence was that the death rate in the large towns had decreased about one third, or in some places one half. In Melbourne also, they had passed a complete and comprehensive Public Health Act, in 18(37, and it had been found of the greatest service in improving the sanitary condition of the people, aud wherever pnoper drainage had not been carried out, the death rate was much higher than in the suburbs and country towns. The Bill now proposed should be a little more comprehensive, although, on account of its simplicity, it could be more easily worked, He thought there should be a General, Health Officer appointed, who could be consulted by the Colonial Secretary when he received reports from the local boards. In the event of any epidemic breaking out, he would visit the pdaee, after the local board had reported, and give it the advantage of his advice and assistance. With the permission of the House he would read a few extracts from evidence taken before a Sanitary Commission at Dunedin in ISG4. The following was from the evidence of Dr Burns, M-R C.S. :

“The chief local causes of disease are comprised in the absence of drainage, and are the evils which depend upon the violation of this sanitary law—the accumulation of fa;eal matter in open privies and cesspools, and the coutaminatiou of the air by their exhalation; the existence in nearly every quarter of the town of stagnant pools o 4 water, into which the exuviae of the neigh, borhood are conveyed; the ill-ventilated and over-crowded condition of low and often damp dwelling-houses; and the absence of :l ny artificial supply of water; leading frequently to the use of polluted streams and wells. “ It is to the excessive habitual wiudincss of the climate, and consequent speedy dispersal of pestilential effluvia, and the elfect of the copious showers which accompany the south-west wind, in clearing oil' surface impurities, that he must ascribe the comparatively slight evil effects that have as yet been experienced from the neglect of sanitary measures, ami the allowing of a large town to degenerate into the condition of a large standing camp. ”