HEALTH MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 36, 18 February 1901, Page 2

HEALTH MATTERS.

THE BOROUGH'S POSITION. At Friday's meeting of the Borough Council the solicitor wrote advising that the Council bad the right to enter the tied of any natural stream or water course within the Borough and to remove all obstructions to the free fl»w of water, but no provision existed for compelling owne'S of land !to do tlut work or pay the cost of samn. The Mayor read a telegram from *hfl Hon. J. G. Ward in reply to a I'orom inication sent to him. Tho mossage stated that Dr. M <sou had baon telegraphed to in relation to the outbreak of typhoid. His Worship alsi read a telegram from Dr. Mason as fol ! ows : "You have full power under the Act to cope with tho matter, but I shall bo glad to help im any way you can indicate, il Ls Worship lwl not replied but everything was being done to prevent the spread of the disojsa. Or Cattley : The telegram was not what we want, What was v.quired was power to goeutsidettie Boiou;,!!. The Mayor: Under the A.c* 'hi Bwough Council is no longer a Board of Health, the matter being now undeitho control of the Government. Dr. Mason however stated that the Council had full authority, and evidently he in tended tbe Council to act.

Or. BfllriEgev : What h Dr. Homo's position ? The Mayor : That is a question I have often asked myself, but cannot answer.

Gr. Billringer: Quite so. I was sure that would be the answer when I put the question. Dr. Home wa», he [answered, in a falte position in aetit.g as Medical Oflicer of Health, and it w a serious condition of affairs. The Council had no power to appoint, a modicnl ofiicor. The G ivorijinent worr to blame, and had no right t« til; a aublic body to aot illegally. The Mayor: I)r. Home found four j canes of typhoid, which were traced to •jilVg, 7k Mr&sU khe'

doctor went to the dairy from which j the milk was obtained, and was cou-i vinced that the outbreak originated' there, as oases of typhoid existed on tho, premises. >iCr. Bellringer moved that th" Borough solicitor ho ri-.qnostcd to alvice the Council ns i.) what sf.'.pi am nbcosiary to jmt in foiw i» thntowj the provisoes of tl.o Public Health Act at once. Th--> Mayor: Dr. Mason's t.legraoi is quiti eluar. (Jr, CliW seconded the motion. The M*yor said thit if Dr, Macon was the responsible authority he had eonferrc-U powir on the Qouno.l. At the same time he C'juli see no harm iu the UiO ion being passed as it was merely askini' for tho solicitor's ad vies. He felt confident, that tho (H'ectiv, steps already taken had b<>en right so as to prev nt the spread of tvpho d and that iu telegraphing to the Minister ot the Dapartment he had taken the only proper course under tha circumstances especially in view of tha opinion of Mr Martin, Counsel to the Municipal Association, which stated clearly that Borough Councils were not bow Boards of Health. No considerations would detar him from taking a similar ceuvse again until the matter was settled. Cr. Cattlay moved nn amendment which was subsequently withdrawn. Cr. JMlringsr, in reply, contended the Government had neg'ected thfir duty. It was not a question of dealing with the prcsaat caßes but it was essential that steps should be taken by tha Government to enable the Council to meet any and every outbreak of a contagions disease. The motion was tV.en carried. In reply to Cr. B l'r ns> r 'he Town Clerk s'ated th - t ca us o' infectious disease were reported vet-tally and not in writing.

Cr. Bell linger pi ot'sted s'rongly against that course, lie contended a record atonic! be kept and that it wou'd be mo: e sa'-i*factory to the Health Committee to have a written report. He moved that in fu-U'e the medical officers be request-d io furnish I written repei ts of cates of infectious |disease.

The motioa was seconded and carried.

Or. Cittlay maved that a letter be sent to Dr. Masou requesting that power be conferred on th« Co incil to deJ with the present cuss. --Curried.