The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1920. NEW PUBLIC HEALTH ACT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 564, 7 September 1920, Page 2

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1920. NEW PUBLIC HEALTH ACT.

Considerable interest is being evinced throughout the Dominion in the main provisions of the new Pub lie Health Bill to be dealt with by Parliament this session. Most of the local authorities are - passing resolutions on the subject, and in some of the important districts concerted action is being taken. A conference in Christchureh recently was attended by the District Health Officer and 2(5 delegates from local bodies in North Canterbury. It was unanimously resolved to endorse the resolution of the Waitaki Hospital Board that all individual precautions in cases of infectious disease, and also all sanitary inspections generally, be enforced by officers of the already existing local branches of the Government Health Department, ano not by the town and county coun cils; that much greater efficiency, at less aggregate cost, would result from the adoption of the Waitaki proposals. Vital matters of nationa' welfare, such as public health, should be administered by the General Gov ernment, and paid Tor out of th( Consolidated Fund of the Dominion in the same manner as the police education, and other national services are now. At present the local infectious liseases precautions carried out by the various hospital boards are paid for out of the general hospital rates, and the cost ol the general sanitary inspections undertaken by the councils is defrayed out of the general local rates. If the councils take over the infectious diseases work as well, as contemplated bv the Bill, the former anticipate no reduction in the hospital rates, but a possible increase in the council's rates. It is expected that the extra cost over the present to all local authorities will range from £ls to £2(> u year for town boards, and from CSO to £6OO a year for town and ' county councils, according to population and area.

If the improved system, that all local health work to be undertaken, by the Public Health Department, be adopted ihe local bodies will be saved not only the anticipated increased levies, but also the already existing expenditure, ranging in some instances up to a I too per annum.