The Globe. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1876.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 767, 5 December 1876, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1876.

The newly constituted Local Board of Health has lost no time in taking practical steps to carry out the work entrusted to it. Under the Public Health Act of last session the conservation of the health of the city and that portion of the suburbs comprised within the drainage district has been placed in the hands of the Drainage Board. Not only does the Act confer upon it the powers formerly vested in the City Council as a Local Board of Health, but it also hands over to the new Board the appointment of the Inspector of Nuisances and general control of the scavengering, &c, of the city so long carried out by the Council. It cannot but be matter for congratulation that a body so well fitted from its other functions as connected with drainage, should also have been selected to be entrusted with these powers. And this because the scheme for drainage and the arrangements made for the preservation of health by the enforcement of sanitary measures being so intimately connected are more certain of being carried to a successful issue when in the hands of one Board than if divided between two which might possibly clash. But whilst this is so, the new Board are of opinion that they are met at the outset of their career with a rather formidable difficulty. Large powers are given to them, and the Act renders it obligatory upon the Board to carry out certain works and to appoint officers. But there is, it is contended, no provision for the raising of the funds whereby the expenses necessarily to be incurred by the Board in working the Act are to be met. The Legislature have, so the members think, omitted any mention of this most important item, and consequently the Board find themselves in the position of having to undertake responsible and costly duties without any revenue. Clause 13 of the Act provides for the G-overnor placing at the disposal of the Central Board, out of any moneys appropriated by the General Assembly, such sum as he may think necessary to meet the necessities of any case. The clause also further provides that the Central Board may give to the Local Boards such sums for the purposes of the Act as it may deem necessary. A further provision enacts that the amount so advanced shall be repaid by the Local Board. But when we turn to sub-section 4 of clause 16 we find it stated there pretty plainly from what source the Local Board shall derive its revenue. The sub-section reads as follows:—•“ Each Local Board “ may also make regulations for all or “ any of the following purposes —For directing the payment of such wages, “ salaries, or allowances as the Local “ Board may deem reasonable, and all “ other expenses incurred by such “ Board in the due execution of this “ part of the Act, to be paid out of the “ general city, town, borough, or dis- “ trict rates, or out of any rates “or other moneys applicable by “ the Board to the purposes of “ improving the city, town, borough, “or district, or otherwise at “ the disposal of the Local Board.” There can we think be no mistake about the interpretation of this, viz, that the cost of providing for the health of the city and suburbs should come out of the general rates. Of course where the district covered by the operations of the Local Board is within the boundaries of a Koad Board district, then the rates paid for that district would have to contribute pro rata . So far as the city is concerned this would be nothing new or additional. The cost of providing the salaries of the Inspector of Nuisances, and the Health Officer and of carrying on the scavenging work of the city has long been borne out of the general rates, and it is now only a change of administration with perhaps a more elaborate and complete scheme. It is only in the suburbs where the alteration will s be made and where the ratepayers will have to contribute towards a much needed system of sanitary inspection. We incline therefore to the opinion that the Board will find the difficulties raised by them are of a shadowy character, and that the funds necessary to carry out their functions will have to be provided in the way we have indicated.