Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1921. HEALTH LAWS, AND POWERS OF LOCAL BODIES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2222, 4 January 1921, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1921. HEALTH LAWS, AND POWERS OF LOCAL BODIES

I'NDEh’ the new I fen Ifli Ad, which came into operation on the first of this month, on eh locnl body is required to promote nml conserve the public henltli within its district, to nrrangeJ'or inspection, to secure the abatement-of conditions likely to be dangerous to health or offensive, and to enforce health rcgulnlions made undcj; the Act. A local nulliorit.y may be exempted from these duties if; it is unable lo make adequate provision; A loeal authority must carry out any sanitary works ordered by 'the Hoard of Health, subject to a rigli’t of appeal to a Stipendiary Magistrates The Bill provides for the appointment of’sanitary inspectors by local authorities, and makes a comprehensive definition on the term “nuisance’’ from the health point of view. Local authorities may serve owners or occujfiers of dwellings with “(deansing orders, ’’ requiring any necessary cleansing to be clone within a speeilied time. Local authorities may also close insanitary premises, the 'owner to have right ol: appeal to a Magistrate. The provision for the demolition of insanitary or dangerous buildings is more drastic- than the law in operation previously. A local authority may order the demolition of premises on the certificate of a health officer, or of the surveyor or engineer of a borough or county. The order must be issued if the Board of Health so directs. If the owner fails to'ccmiply with the order, a Magistrate may make a demolition order, which will enable the local authority to remove the building and charge the owner with, the cost. A health officer, if authorised by the Director-General, may apply to the Magistrate for the order if the local authority has not moved after an owner lias failed to comply with a requisition. District Health Officers, now to be known.as Medical Officers of Health, are. given wide powers in relation to infectious and notifiable disease. In the case of an epidemic they may-requisition land, buildings, vehicles, drugs, and oilier article* They may require persons to report themselves for medical examination, order isolation, quarantine, and disinfection, may control the movements of persons ancVships, may order the closing of hotels had places of amusement. Medical practitioners may be required, when they discover cases of notifiable disease, to inform the occupier of the premises and the person in attendance on the patient, as *well as the local authority and the Health Officer. The law relating to quarantine of ships is strengthened. Local authorities, may levy a separate rate to cover expenditure under .the -Health Act. Where a local authority fails To carry out -* A •

works ami exercise powers under the Art, Hie Health Department may no the work ami charge the cost to the local authority.