BOARD OF HEALTH.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1926, Page 3

BOARD OF HEALTH.

SOM E VITAL MATT KPS DISCUSSED. [by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. March 4. The lion ,), A. Young, Minister of Health, presided at yesterday’s meeting of the Hoard of Health and was formally welcomed on behalt ol the members by Sir Lirnlo I'orguson. The Hoard approved of regulations for the control of hairdressing saloons and recommended with regard to the problem of water and drainage in the Auckland and surrounding district to obtain a water supply from Lake Taupo. The Hoard at its previous meeting had recommended that an enquiry should he instituted, in the terms of the Health Act, to investigate the position. The /Minister said this recommendation bad been approved b\ bis predecessor and by himscll. but the question was whether to have the committee comprised of the Hoard's own members or a special commission in nccordnnee with section 1 I ol the Act. The Hoard decided to recommend the Government to take the latter course.

The Minister explained the question had arisen out of difficulties which hod developed in connection with wntei drainage m the Auckland district where there already existed the North (shore Ho roughs Water Hoard which included in its orbit Devonport. Takapuna and Northcote. It controlled the distribution ot water throughout‘those districts from Lake Taka puna. The Water Hoard was seeking increased

powers. An application by Onehuiign Horoilgli raised the question of facilitating loans wherewith local bodies may finance the connection of private properties with drainage systems when the owner was unable to finance the work. It was resolved to request the Government to consider legislation empowering the Hoard of Health to issue requisitions enabling local authorities to raise loans for the above purpose without a poll of the ratepayers. A resolution was adopted urging that the time bad arrived when a definite policy should be formulated for medical research concerning matters affecting the public health, special reference being made to research work at Otago University regarding infantile paralysis and other diseases wherefore a C° 000 grant had been made by Cabinet" some time ago. Sir T-indo Ferguson thought a grant of £‘3,000 P ol ' an * mnn would, suffice, and, possibly encourage private bequests for this object The Minister was sympathetic, but pointed out that it would be . a mistake for New Zealand to embark upon research into matters that could he much more effectively tackled by older and bigger countries where clinical opportunities were unlimited.