CONFERENCE RE SANITARY MATTERS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1974, 22 June 1880, Page 3

CONFERENCE RE SANITARY MATTERS.

Pursuant to arrangement between the Local Board of Health and the City Council, a conference of members representing the respective bodies was held yesterday afternoon in the City Council Chamber. There were present—Messrs. Harman, Duncan, Hall, Bobs, Hobbs, and Blakiston, and Crs. Hulbert, Lambert, and England. Mr Oowlishaw, of Messrs Carrick and Cowlishaw, solicitors, was also present. Mr Harman, chairman of the Local Board, was elected to the chair.

The Chairman stated the objects of the conference, and remarked that it was hoped to come to an understanding mutually satisfactory. The Board of Health recognised the difficulty in which the oity waß placed at present, and thought, without attempting any elaborate plan, that the conference might oome to an understanding which would afford the relief required, pending any future legislation that might be adopted by Parliament. He might add that the legal adviser of the Board of Health had been asked to attend, in order that the conference might not decide on aaything that could not be legally carried out.

Mr Ross agreed with the chairman as to the advisability of adopting temporary measures, and they should, perhaps, first decide as to whether they should seek any new enactment this session.

Or. Lambert remarked that, as was well known, the Council had not the required power in reference to recovering certain rates pertaining to sanitary matters, and now a fresh difficulty had cropped up, a person named Paddy having issued a summons against the Council to recover the amount with which he had been charged for the removal of night soil. Mr Hall asked whether the Council would be satisfied if the Board of Health delegated its powers to them within the city boundary ? Mr Harman suggested whether thoy would approve of such a course as a temporary measure ?

Cr. Lambert said all the Council sought at present was to have power to enforce their bylaws.

Mr Duncan said they could not give that power. Mr Hall pointed out that they could give the Council power to proceed under the powers of the Local Board of Health. Mr Hobbs reviewed the history of the sanitary arrangements which had obtained in Ghristchurch since he occupied the position of Mayor of Christchuroh. The question now for them to consider was who should, have the control of the work. The Board of Health could not find time for the work, and ho did not see how that body could undertake the responsibility. The City Council, he thought, was the proper authority, and so far as he was concerned the Council had done the work hitherto in a manner quite satisfactory, the only difficulty being that they had not the power to enforce compliance with •their by-laws. He thought, at any rate, that one body should have control of this department, and he would not object to a body in which the different looal bodies oould be represented. If, on the other hand, Parliament should say that there must be one Central Board, being the Drainage Board, then they should seek power for that body t 0 delegate its powers to other local governin . bodies.

Or. England said the Counoil desired to recover tho powers taken from them years ago, or, failing that, thoy wished to be relieved altogether from tho work. He deprecated divided authority. Mr Hobbs pointed out that the whole matter devolved upon a question of money—bo far as the Board of Health was concerned, that body having no machinery to carry out tho work efficiently at present.

Cr. Lambert remarked that the Council were committed to a contract for a certain term, which placed another difficulty in the way of a direct change of authority. He anticipated vhat the matter would be discussed at the Council that evening.

Mr Harman pointed out that the end of the month was near, and it was not possible to initiate any new form of legislation within nine days. Possibly Mr Cowlishaw might suggest a modoby which the Board could take over the contract from the Council. Mr Harman also remarked that in dealing with this matter tho outside bodies should be considered, as did thoy not agreo there would probably be no fresh legislation in the matter. Under all tho circumstances, he thought the suggestion made by Mr Rosa at an earlier stago was tho best that could bo adopted, namely, to make temporary provision to meet the difficulty. He believed the case might be met by the Board of Health seeking power to delegate its authority to the Council, to the end that tho sanitary conditions might be enforced.

Cr. Hulbert would like to say that, so far as he understood, the Council did not desire to give up this work, because, whoever took it up, the ratepayers would still look to the City Council aa a responsible body within the city,

He suggested that as a temporary expedient < the Council would be satisfied by the city inspector being invested with full power under the Board of Health, as he belrevod the clashing of the respective inspectors would always be the great difficulty. Cr. Lambert desired that there-should be no misapprehension. The resolution of the Council was almost a unanimous expression of opinion. Mr Harman said with regard to Or. Hulbert'a remarks, that only one case had come under his notice (as executive officer of the Board) in which the two inspectors had come into collision, and 1 ho saw no reason why that, which was admittedly a drawback, might not be avoided. Mr Hobbs moved —" That with a view of placing the City Council in a position to enforce sanitary regulations within the city under the powers conferred by the Publio Health Act, this Conference is of opinion that, pending the amending of the Publio Health Act specially to meet the wants of Christchurch and the surrounding districts, a temporary arrangement might be made by having a short olause drawn and sent to Wellington, asking Parliamont to give the Drainage Board, as Local Board of Health for the whole district, power to delegate its powers to the Christchurch Oity Council or any other local body within their district, and that the clauses sent up by the City Council as amendments be withdrawn." Cr. Lambert read the resolution of the Council claiming supreme control within the city. Mr Bobs seconded the motion of Mr Hobbs, and suggested that whilst it was impossible to obtain perfect legislation at once, the resolution just proposed was more likely to prove acceptable to Parliament. Mr Duncan pointed out that the committee of the Council wore present to hear the views of the Local Board of Health and report to the Council at its meeting in the evening, and he suggoeted that the Council should be asked to meet the Board as a body next day, when the matter could be talked over. Ho moved an amendment to that effect.

Mr Blakiston seconded the amendment, remarking that the Couucil appeared to have nailed their colours to the mast, or, in other words, had arrived at a conclusion from which they wore not disposed to depart, and the present discussion, under the circumstances, seemed to be a waste of time.

The resolution was withdrawn by general consent.

Mr Duncan's amendment thus became the substantive motion, and was put as follows: " That this conference adjourn till to-morrow at the same time and place, and that tho City Council be requested as a body to meet the Local Board of Health." The conference then adjourned.