The Globe. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 986, 23 August 1877, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1877.

The sitting of Parliament lias, of course, brought with it the usual applications on the part of local bodies for amendments in the Acts under which they are working. Amongst others, the Board of Health has proposed certain amendments in the Public Health Act, to which we desire to draw the attention of the public. The principal —and to us as ratepayers most important —proposition is, that the Board shall be enabled to join the already numerous band of rate levying bodies and raise money for the purposes of the Act. Now, it may perhaps be as well in remarking upon this proposition to go back and see what really was the intention as to the position and powers of the Board. Prior to the introduction of the Bill of last session we had a Central Board, with the City Council and the various suburban and country Koad Boards as local Boards. But the machinery under which this was worked having reference to the bringing into force of the Act in the districts was exceedingly cumbrous. The Grovernment undertook to remedy this defect, brought under their notice, we believe, by the late Superintendent, who was chairman of the Central Board, and the Act of last session was brought in. Under tins the Drainage Board here was appointed as the Board of Health, and have since acted as such. But to our mind, in applying for rating powers they are misconceiving their position and duties. All that they should have been empowered to do for us was to act as supervisors of the various Local Boards, such as the City Council for Christchurch, and the Load Boards for the country. And as a Drainage Board they are admirably fitted for the work. To "them come the complaints as to defective drainage and by them —as a Drainage Board —are executed the works which are so intimately connected with the preservation of the public health. But the intention of the ratepayers was that they should be the central supervising body keeping a watchful eye over and advising with the Local Boards. The actual work which involves expenditure shouldhave been undertaken by the City Council and Koad Boards, who are enabled, from their rates, to defray the cost. In the latter case there is, in the majority of instances, funds available for this purpose, which otherwise would be spent not quite so usefully. So also as regards the City Council. They have a rating power and the expenditure of the money ; hence they are the proper persons to undertake the practical work of the conservation of the health of the city. The City Council is certainly the body to whom the health of the city should be committed; the various Koad Boards being compelled in like manner to look after the rural and suburban districts. At present the City Council and the Board of Health work amicably because several of the members of one are also members of the other; but supposing a change in the constitution of either, this agreement may not continue, and wc shall have two bodies acting antagonistic to each other. Such a power as now asked for is totally unnecessary, as we contend the Board of Health should have nothing whatever to do with the working out of the details. Besides this, it appears to us that avc have already enough rate-levying bodies and to spare What Avith the City Council, Waimakariri, Drainage Board, Education, and others, the symbolical £ seems to be in a fair Avay of being absorbed altogether. If this neAV aspirant for a share of the public money is admitted, Ave shall be very near to that happy state of things Avheu the Avhole earnings of the people will be absorbed iu

the cost of governing them. We trust therefore that the Parliament will not accede to this request; hut that if any amendment be made it will be in the way of vesting the conservancy of the public health in the hands of the City Council and adjacent Road Boards, subject to the supervision of the Central Board.