THE DRAINAGE BOARD ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2426, 14 January 1882, Page 3

THE DRAINAGE BOARD ELECTIONS.

On Tuesday next the ratepayers in two of the metropolitan snbdistricts of the drainage district will be called upon to select their representatives on the Board. This being so, a word or two as to the claims of the respective candidates will probably not ho deemed out of place. Let us premise this, that so far as the future action of the new Board in relation to the drainage scheme is concerned, it will simply be a policy of continuity. The operations have so far advanced, and the lines upon which the scheme is to be carried are so strongly defined, that really the whole that will be required of the new Board is supervision. Hence it is not so necessary to sTutinise the qualifications of the candidates with regard to drainage matters as it would be were the city just proposing to initiate the scheme. But the Drainage Board is a body having, as it were, a dual existence. It combines with its functions as a Drainage Board those of the District Local Board of Health, and it is with respect to this portion of the duties which will devolve upon its members that we propose to speak. In each of the two wards the ratepayers have before them a medical gentleman. Both candidates occupy a good position in their profession, and it is satisfactory to find gentlemen possessing both ability and high professional skill placing their services at the disposal of the ratepayers. They will be of especial use in the capacity of members of the Board of Health. Their professional knowledge and experience most of necessity have enabled them to form an accurate knowledge of the sanitary requirements of the city, and thus they can give the Board the very best advice upon this important subject. It may, and doubtless will, he urged that the Board have already a medical officer of health, and that, therefore, no more experts are required on the Board. Indeed the friends of one of the lay candidates have been busily circulating the report that Dr. Prins’ candidature is simply intended to thwart this officer. As Dr. Prins is quite able to take care of himself, no more need he said upon the subject, but we desire to point out that so far from the election of two medical men as members of the Board tending to embarrass the Officer of Health, it would the rather strengthen his hands. These gentlemen, far more than the non-medical members of the Board, would be able to estimate at their true value the weight of the suggestions for sanitary improvements suggested by the Medical Officer. They would from their experience know the great necessity which exists for careful and vigilant sanitary supervision in Christchurch, and thus, so far fiom being hindrance to his work, they would in reality be the means of expediting it and increasing his efficiency. Looking at the matter from this point of view, which we contend in the interests of the citizens is the most important, wo cannot hut think that the ratepayers will be doing a great service to the city as a whole by returning the medical gentlemen now before them.