Health Endangered by Campers’ Neglect

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 798, 19 October 1929, Page 1

Health Endangered by Campers’ Neglect

SHOCKING SANITATION / DR. CHESSON HITS OUT "They are like primitive natives so far as sanitation and hygiene is concerned.” rpHIS is the way that Dr. Herbert Chesson, Medical Officer of Health, describes the habits of some of the hundreds of launchmen, yachtsmen and boating picnic parties, who frequent the bays and beaches bordering the Haurakl Gulf during the summer months. With the cruising season close at hand the doctor’s comments are likely to excite Interest. Many of the boats anchoring at these resorts possess no sanitary arrangements. It is absolutely revolting to people to visit the beaches after holidaymakers have left them in a deplorable condition. He stated persons responsible for such conduct apparently forget they are committing a breach of the Health Act. The Health Department had received a number of complaints concerning the habits of campers after the breaking-up of camps at the various beaches last season, and an inspection had revealed most disgusting conditions. The doctor added that he also had seen evidence of the conduct of boating and camping parties at the Kawau, Waiheke and Coromandel beaches. When camps were established. he added, latrines on the military system must be built. Dr. Chesson added that he intended circulating all local bodies under whose jurisdiction resorts frequented by cruising and camping parties were, requesting them to instruct their inspectors to maintain a sharp watch on the sanitation and hygiene of holi-day-makers. More rigorous inspection of camps and "bach” sanitation is also to be carried out this summer, Waiheke being one of the places due for a “shake up.”