The Globe. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1049, 7 November 1877, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1877.

What was predicted, wlien the City Council raised the question of the resumption of the powers of the Local Board of Health, is likely to happen. If Christchurch gets all her demands the suburban Hoad Boards will not be slow to follow her example, and it they have their way we shad have a return of a state of things witnessed years ago, when the health of the suburbs was in a deplorable condition. Past experience in sanitary matters has proved that the city authorities are quite willing and able to look after the health of the city. Till lately there has always been a marked contrast between the state of things inside the belt and outside. By all means, if

they want it, let the Council resume their powers as a Local Board of Health, but surely, in the interests of the health of those they represent, they can wait till some satisfactory arrangement is come to regarding the management of sanitary matters in the suburbs. To all appearance anarchy and confusion will result from their present action. It is said that some of the members of the Local Board of Health will refuse to act if the city is taken from their control; if the majority are of that opinion the prospect before us during the coming summer is not a bright one, for we are informed that the majority of the Councillors are equally resolute. In the discord likely to result, the Eoad Boards will no doubt claim to take a share. Without the forma 1 sanction of the Council, the Mayor got a Bill prepared embodying his views, and forwarded it to Wellington for introduction Bor anything we know the chairmen of the suburban Eoad Boards may be taking a similar course. As far as the Avon and Heathcote districts are concerned, the chairmen of these Boards would be quite as justified as the Mayor of Christchurch was in taking such a course. Meetings have been held in both districts and resolutions in favor of such a course being taken, passed. As far as we can gather the citizens of Christchurch would view with some alarm the return of the state of things which existed previous to the Act of 1875 being passed. At the public meeting held in the Oddfellows’ Hall on October 25th among other resolutions carried was the following: —

That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the powers to be exercised under the Public Health Act should bo vested in the Christchurch City Council within the city, leaving the remainder of the drainage district to he dealt ivith hy the Drainage Board. One of the very first results of the meeting, at which the above resolution was proposed, was the holding of one at St. Albans, at which a resolution in an entirely different direction was passed. There the entire repeal of the 14th clause of the Public Health Act was urged, and the handing over the powers of the Eoad Boards demanded. Will the prospect of a return to such a state of things have no effect upon the impetuosity of the Council F Will they not, for a short time, sink all personal considerations, and endeavour to look at the question entirely in the public interests ? If they would only do so, some plan would no doubt be hit upon by which they would gain all they now demand, without running any risk of sacrificing valuable lives.