MEETING AT KAIAPOI.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2246, 14 June 1881, Page 3

MEETING AT KAIAPOI.

On Monday afternoon a meeting of members of the local Boards of the electoral district was held at the Kaiapoi Borough Council chamber. Present—The Mayor (Mr Blockwell), Or. Pinching, Dr. Ovenden, Captain Parsons (chairman Mandeville Boad Board), Messrs Wilson, Hopkins, and Elder, members of Eyreton Boad Board. The Chairman said the meeting had been called to consider the question of asking for certain alterations in the Publio Health Act, 1876, to be made during the present session of Parliament. His Local Board of Health finding it could not deal with the proper isolation of cases of infectious diseases, was desirous of having certain amendments mode, and it was thought desirable to seek the opinion of the neighboring Boards of Health, so that all amendments whioh they might propose should go forward at the same time. The Board to whioh be was attached had lately, in consequence of the introduction of a cose of typhoid fever from an infeoted to a clean district, applied to the Central Board of Health for a copy of its regulations, but found that they had none relating to the case in point. The local Board was supposed to deal with matters in accordance with the Act or regulations framed by the Central Board, and while the Act provided for the adoption, under section 20, by the Central Board of regulations for the speedy interment of bodies which had died of infectious disease, for house to house visitation, and for medical aid, accommodation, cleansing, ventillotion, and disinfection, as well as other guards against the spread of disease, those steps appeared to have not been taken. As the matters to be brought forward appeared to be of such vital importance, it would be for the meeting to consider the advisableness or otherwise of adopting them, and if they did adopt them, endeavor to have the same incorporated in the existing Aot relating to publio health and the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases. Mr Pinching pointed out that it was desirable that the medical officers appointed by the local boards should have more power than they had at present, in being able to limit communication with sick persons as far es possible, in order to prevent the chance of infection spreading. Dr. Ovenden thought if the Boards had the powers which the draft copies of the motions to be brought forward proposed they could deal with the subject" by direoting their medical officers.

Captain Parsona asked if there was not a lection of the Act which compelled the aaid medical men to report oases of disease to the Local Boards of Health. The chairman read section 28, stating that the householder must give notico to the Board, and that it waa the duty of the medical practitioner in attendance on any case of infectious disease to atate to the householder the infectious nature of such disease. He then read aeotion 31, referring to the penalty for expoaure of infected peraons, bedding, clothes, rags or other things, which, however, did not reach what they had met to diacubs. He wanted to prevent infected persona being sent from one district to another.

After some conversation, Mr Pinching moved, Mr Isaac Wilson seconded—" That no person or persona be permitted while suffering from an infectious disease, or any one in charge of the same, to remove or be removed into an infected district without giving twenty-four hours' notice to the chairman or the medical officer of the Local Board of Health, who shall take such measures as he may deem necessary to prevent the spread of disease." It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Pinching, seconded by Mr Hopkins—" That it should be lawful for the Local Board of Health, at the instigation of their medical officer, to proclaim any house, street, or district infected, and to prevent any communication with such house, street, or district." Mr Isaac Wilson moved, Mr H. Elder seconded —" That it shall be lawful for any local Board of Health, at the instigation of their medical officer, to prevent any infected person saving the medical officer, attendants, and nurses, from visiting at any house where there is infectious disease except by permission of the medical officer." Carried. Mr Pinching moved, Mr Hopkins seconded—- " That the resolutions be forwarded to the member for the district, with a request that if possible ho will have same incorporated in the Health Act during the present session." Carried.

Captain Parsons here asked if the Bangiora Board of Health had been communicated with. The Town Clerk said Mr Pinohing had told him who to write.to, and did not mention that Council.

Mr Pinohing said he regretted the omission. He had' quite forgot about Bangiora—[laughter]—as he thought the Boad Board managed the health matters of that distriot. He, however, begged to move—" That the Bangiora Borough Council be written to, and

an apology made for the apparent neglect; also forwarding the resolutions, asking the Council to approve and support the same," Mr Isaao Wilson seconded the motion, which was agreed to. On the motion of Mr Pashby, seconded by Mr Pinching, it was decided to ask that the penalty for offeaoes under section 31, with those to be added, be not exceeding £2O, instead of only £6, as now existing. Mr Wilson moved a vote of thanks to Dr. Ovenden and Mr Pinching, for the manner in which they had brought this matter forward, and thought their suggestions were not only for the benefit of that district, but the oountry generally. Captain Parsons seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A vote of thanks to the ohairman concluded the meeting.