The Daily News MONDAY. MAYS 6, 1901. THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 90, 6 May 1901, Page 2

The Daily News MONDAY. MAYS 6, 1901. THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

Some little while back a g-aod deal <;f discussion toek plaea reg<rj. ng the position of local bodies under the Publie Health Act which was p.iesed last s'Biion. In a ciicular i*stttd by D". Ma'cn, the chief H»altb Officer for the • 'olony, it is made clear tV tit, ijo ough and County Councds h »ve the power 10 appoint medical officers of health and sanitary insp°ctors, to advice and report on the sanitary condition of the districtunder their control. Every local authority should hare an heilth officer of its own. The health offic»r» appoin'ed by Government are intended to aid the local authority and only where local authorities neglect their duti.s will the larger Powers, contained in the Act of 1900, be invoked. It is no 1 ! intended by the central authority to intetf«re or coerce anyone unless where o dinsry raagestarial proceduie b foui.d' ionffec:}ive. It is rather as "sci n'ifio advisers " on all matters.that make for the betterment and physical welfare of the people, that the public health officials are to be regard«d. In all cises disttiet'health officers w'dl be m-dical men skilled in bacteriology and s- ni'ary matters :and will be provided with tb« proper equipment for the only diagnosis of diphtheni, entrric fever and such like diseaies. Median's, sueh a-anti-toxines, will hp found 'or peopie who are unable to. pay for them. Under f he Act the Governor is endowed with very large powers and may by Order-in-Council make regiila'ions of a very comprehensive character. These regulations have recently been g-zetteJ Power is also given for a houst to house inspection and to enferce prope' 1 provision for sinita'ion with regard t-> inn"! |a,cd lodging houses. The regulations are very in ev' ry be 3 room there shall be at least t ■>() cubic feet of air spico for ( very p reon occupying the room, two child ten under ten years of age to count cs one adult, and if the maximum rumb r i f persons a room can accommodate is exce dad the keeper of the hr wil bi liabli to a pena'ty not £5. In common lodging house* theiv shall be at leisfc ten gallons of water per heid per day for the lodgers. Ev»ry bedroom or dormitory which is occupied by two or mora persona shall ba vantilated by means of a chimney, and also, if P'wible, by a window opening direc'.ly to the eu'side air. The beds shall b< stripped daily, and the b d clochei ex posad for fully an hour, ai'd the bed i shall not be re-occupied wi'hin eight hours of being vacated." All flops' and lel'uso must be rameved by ten o'clock in the morning. - Infringement of these regiihtiors render the lodgiag housekeeper to a penilty nob exceeding £5. There are many other inttresting features in thfse regulations to whici we shall lefer on some othev occasion.