PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1920, Page 1

PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.

PARTICULARS OF AMENDING ACT. '

(Our Parliamentary Correspondsnt.)

WELLINGTON, August 31

The Public Health Amendment Bill which was introduced to-day is largely a consolidating measure, but it contains some important new clauses. It creates a Board of Public Health, which is to exercise the very wide powers at present passed by the chief health officer. It proposes also to give increased powers and responsibilities to local bodies in public health matters. The Bill was read a second time pro forma,, and referred to the PublicHealth Committee which will give persons intersted an opportunity to be heard before the Bill returns to the House.

The Minister for Public Health, (Mr Parr) said that the new Public Health Board would absorb the existing Medical Board of Health, and would take over the authority possessed at present by the Chief Health Officer, who was in a position at present to dictate to local bodies. The new Board would contain representatives of the Municipal Association and Counties Association, and the lay element would be in a, majority. The Bills increased considerably the powers possessed by local bodies in respect of public health. Local bodies were being encouraged to do things for themselves. The Bill authorised the creation ,of several divisions within.tbe Public Health Department, but they were not really new divisions at all. They were the division of hospitals, headed by Dr Wylie; division of nursing, Miss Mac Lean; division of hygiene, Dr Watt; division of Maori hygiene, Dr Buck; and division of school of hygiene, Dr Wilkie. Answering questions, Hon Parr admitted there had been a confusion of authority at the time of epidemic in recent years. The Hospital Boards had been expected to look after matters of sanitation and hygiene, and the work had not been well done. The Bill proposed to give authority to local bodies, instead of Hospital Boards. . Local bodies would be in direct contact with the Public Health Department and the care of the health of the people would be one of their principal duties.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

WELLINGTON, August 31

The Health Bill contains the following provision relating ,tp tile Medical examination of school children:—“Any medical practitioner or other officer authorised in that way by the Minister, may at all reasonable times enter any -public-; school, secondary school or technical high school, and examine the children attending the school and may notify the parents or guardians of iny such child of any disease or bodily defect from which the child may I.e.:,■suffering. Any parent or guardian of any child who has been notified by direction of a medical practitioner or other officer acting under this seen ion that such child is suffering from any disease or bodily defect, shall forthwith obtain for such child suitable medical or surgical or dental treatment, and if he fails .to obtain such t <i.trnent, he shall be guilty of an oiicnie against this Act.” The penalty -or an offence aj-unst the Act is a fine of £lO with a forth ” fine of £5 a day in the case of continuing the offence.