The Feilding Star. TUESDAY SEPT. 16, 1884. Sanitary Retorm

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 40, 16 September 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY SEPT. 16, 1884. Sanitary Retorm

In a letter which appeared in our correspondence columns last issue,

attention v/_s directed to the urgent need which obtains for some special attention being directed to tho sanitary condition of tho Borou*;h. In plain tern is we state that the Boron" h Council has neglected its duty in tho past in thin respect, and by utterly ignoring the repeated warnings? we have given, have incurred a very serious responsibility. That there are, and have been for the past three or four months, many cases of ''<•* ■_■ in v;.ri'.ms forms in oui* midst, ~t be concealed, and although the. «-. been no fatal cases aa yet — 6vrin OJ ... some measure, to climatic in iiu 0 •.'■es —it is not too much to expect ..-

•when the hot weather ccroca in, many serious eases may certainly occur, j We are prepared to admit thai the Inspector of Nuisances does his duty as far as lies in hia pov.-cr, but we j think that a close inspection of ail the bfick premises in tho Borough shi.ald be made by a properly quaiiiied pert*on, duly authorised, and whose repoxfc as to what is nectjusary to put the town in a clean and healthy condition should be acted upon. If the funds at the disposal of the BoroTigh will not admit of this, a special rate should be struck for the purpose. As the Mayor, Mr Sherwill, has always exhibited a keen desire to advance the best interests of the Borough and its residents, we have every confidence that he will bring this matter before the Council at its next meeting. The two recently elected Councillors, Messrs Gichard and Nicholas, by promoting and supporting any measures which will tend to the general health of their fellow citizens, will prove that they are " the right mon in the right place." As it is more than probable that a rate may have to be struck to meet the expenses of repairing the damages done to the roads and bridges by the recent floods it might be feasible to include charges for sanitary purposes. That is a matter, however, which we can with perfect safety leave in the hands of the Council. Let the people also take warning. It is absurd to expect that the authorities should do everything for them. They must act for them- \ selves and not wait for an exposure in the R.M. Court or an outbreak of disease in their families before they attend to the ordinary laws of decency and health. If every householder were to take the very simplest precautions, the nature of which are now known to the most ignorant, typhoid fever, and many other diseases which sweep off to many young children, would become almost unknown. It is a disgrace to civilization that it should be necessary to keep people healthy " by Act of Parliament" and clean by the exercise of stringent Borough Bye-laws.