HEALTH CONFERNCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2614, 23 August 1882, Page 4

HEALTH CONFERNCE.

A conference between the members of the various local bodies, in continuation of the one previously held, took place at 3.15 p m. yesterday. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Ors. Hulbert and Kiver, Messrs Hubbard, Parker, Vircant, Manniog, and Dr. Doyle (Drainage Board), Messrs Attwood and Jones (Heathoote Boad Board), the Mayor of Sydenham, Ors. Brown and Pavitt (Sydenham Borongh Council), and Cr. Blakiston (St. Albans) Mr Vincent, chairman of the Looal Board of Health, occupied the ohair. The Chairman said the meeting was called to receive the resolutions agreed to by the ■ob-committee appointed to consider the question, which would be read. The Secretary, Mr Gordon, read the resolution as follows: —(1.) "That a District Board of Health be constituted, which shall exercise and perform all the necessary powers, sights and duties of the Central Board of Health within the Christohurch district health area, but at all times to be subservient to the Central Board of Health." (2.) " That the Ohristohuroh district health area inolude Ohristohuroh, Sydenham, St. Albans, and the whole area of the road districts, portions of which are now included in the Christchuroh. drainage district." (3.) "That the Ohristohuroh District Drainage Beard, constituted by the Christohurch District Drainage Act, 1876, be constituted the D'striot Board of Health." (4.) "That the District Board of Health have power to appoint such officers and servants as may be necessary for the due carrying out of the duties imposed upon the Board." (5.) " The salaries and other expenses be charged pro rata, as per rate roll of each body within the district health area." (6.) "That one of the local papers be the offioial gazette of the Board." (7.) " That, in the event of the above resolutions being

pasted and becoming law, the proviso in olause 14 of the Public Health Aot be repealed." (8 ) u That the foregoing resolutions be for- "*"* warded to each of the looal bodies within the area, requesting a reply on before September 30th next." It was resolved to discuss the rasolutions seriatim. On resolution No. 1, Or. Hulbert asked whether the constitution of the Board had been provided for. The Chairman said this was provided for l^ola??\3. The olause was then put and agreed to. On olauie 2, Or. Blakiston asked whether it was intended to make the local bodies, such as St. Albans borough, the Looal Board of Health for themselves. The Chairman responded in the affirmative.

Or. Blokiaton felt that the great desideratum of overtaking the spread of disease would not be attained by cutting up into these small districts. The Mayor of Chriatouurch pointed out that the same system obtained now, and no extra expense would be entailed on local bodies beyond what they now paid. The fact was that it was necessary to put the Board of Health in the position of a supervising Board. The medical officer and chief inspector of nuisances would be under the control of the central Board, but would be available for the whole district. The Mayor of Sydenham said that he understood that there would be really no change in the system beyond providing in case of an epidomic for the Board of Health being provided with funds. IferJones said that this clause was very ssßfWrtant, because it included a large portion of the area not now included in the Board of Health distriot. He was glad to find that the resolutions were to be submitted to the local bodies, who could express their opinion on it. With regard to his district ho found that as proposed under clause 2, it took in St. Martin's, Hillsborough, Sumner, &c , which he felt was a very good alteration. His Worship the Mayor of Ohristohuroh pointed out that all the distriot was under the supervision of the Heathcote Road Board, as the local Board of Health, The clause was passed. Clause 3 was then put. The Chairman said that there was some difference of opinion on this clause. It would of course be found that in the future all local bodies would be represented.

Or. Hulbert thought that it would be more acceptable to the local bodies if their, representatives were sent to the Central Board of Health. The powers asked for to be delegated to the Board were very large indeed, and he questioned whether Parliament would grant these powers to an elective body.

Mr Jones was of the same opinion as Cr. Hulbert, and the proposed arrangement went far to suggest the advisability of a separate Board being eleoted. At any rate, it was exceedingly important to provide for the proclamation of town districts, whioh promised to be very numerous, and that it should be left open to any legislation for representatives of town districts to come in. His Worship the Mayor of Ohristchoroh ■aid he hid opposed the clause because he was in favor either of election of a separate body or the nomination of members by the various looal bodies interested. He thought perhaps the latter would be the best socrse. He would move as an amendment to the clause "That a Distriot Board of Health be nominated from the various local bodies in the district."

Mr Jones seconded the amendment, as the increased boundaries made it in his opinion a fatal objection to the keeping the Board of Health in the position. * > N Dr. Doyle opposed the amendment, as he thought that the delegation of mombera from the local bodies would destroy the utility of the Board. He thought they should go to the citizens and get the best men eleoted. He would oppose the amendment. The Mayor of Sydenham said he thought they ought to retrace their steps and return to the drainage area, as he believed that they had made a mistake in going outside. He thought that olause 2 should be recommitted for further discussion. Mr Manning said that he was quite at one with the Mayor of Sydenham. The Mayor of Ohristohuroh thought that instead of curtailing the area, they should enlarge it, and take in all the Selwyn County. The Mayor of Sydenham agreed with the Mayor of Ohristohurch on this subject so far, but he desired to point out that unless they did what he proposed they would find that no business could be done.

Or. Hulbert said that it was a great pity they did not, whilst getting an Act, inolude the whole of the Selwyn County and the town of Lyttelton. The Board was only a supervising body, and not one for carrying oat details.

Dr. Doyle said that Lyttelton was peculiarly situated, having a medical officer and inspector receiving their instructions direot from the Central Board at Wellington. He thought, therefore, that Lyttelton was aula itntljr looked after.

The amendment of the Mayor of Christchuroh was pat and carried by 8 to 6. Dr. Doyle thought that the conference ought to dissolve, aa it wag simply goirjg backwards instead of forwards.

Or. Hulbert pointed out that others besides the Drainage Board could oarry out the business of the Board of Health. They were not elected on the question of health, but for drainage purposes. The Mayor of Sydenham said, after the amendment, he could take no further part in the conference, and would therefore retire. Clauses 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were then put and agreed to. Mr Jones said that he desired to point out that the resolution as to the appointment of the Board of Health did not oonfine the local bodies to their own members, and therefore no doubt tho valuable services of Dr. Doyle would be utilised.

The Mayor of Christohurch folt that it was quite necessary that the Drainage Board and Board of Health should be separate. Or. Louisson said that groat diversity of opinion existed as to the oourso taken by the Drainage Board; but if the latter was also the Board of Health, there was no appeal against anything that might be done wrong. Mr Parker thought that the arguments to a great extent had proceeded on the assumption that the Board of Health was nominated. Now they were eieoted the same as the members of the Oity Council, and the ralepayers, if they felt aggrieved, could redress their grievance by not voting for them again. The conference then closed with a vote of thanks to the Mayor for the use of the room, and to tho chairman.