EPIDEMIC COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1919, Page 5

EPIDEMIC COMMISSION.

EECOMMEMDAHONS GRITJCrSED. BYMINISTEB OF HBALIH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Ohristchurcb, Last Night. In an interview, the Eon. G. W. Russell commented on the eighteen recommendations of the Epidemic Commission. He said that arrangements had been made for the amendment and consolidation of the Public Health Law, and he had recommended the insertion of clauses in the Public Health Law regulating prices of equipment, goods and services for combating the epidemic. The appointment of a chief sanitary Inspector was utterly impossible, as it Would mean conflict between such officer and the chief health officer. Instructions had been given for the oomplete reorganisation of the Department, and the relations of the medical, sanitary, and administrative officers would bo clearly defined. An educational establishment hoe been in existence for some time, and he was of opinion that a specially trained and highly educated medical officer should be appointed to watch every development in the public health and communicate the result of his studies and re?"arch to the public and hospital boards. The relation of the education system to public health was a matter for the Minister for Education, and it would be brought before him. In regard to the establishment of school clinics, he was of opinion that the medical work now being conducted by the Government inspectors of schools should be linked xrj> with the hospital system, which would be more efficient than the proposal of the commission. The Cabinet had already approved of assistance being given to such bodies as the St. John Ambulance Association, and hospital boatds were empowered to grant subsidies to such organisations. The suggestion that cities and large towns with contiguous boroughs and town districts should form local health departments under the supervision of the Government health department was impracticable, but it wag desirable that the department's supervision should be closer than at present. Equally impossible was the proposal that the Health Department should assume control of all public health matters in other boroughs and town districts than the dties and towns referred to. The commission evidently did not understand the determination of the people to have local self-government. He would not give the proposal five minutes' consideration.

He hoped that as the result of joint action on the part of the Marine and Health Departments an effective scheme would be evolved for improvement of the conditions in shipping. The housing question was rather a political question than one arising out of the epidemic. The proposal for an international bureau had his approval, but for various reasons he did not deem an annual conference of the health authorities nece* sary. SUSPECTED CASES. Wellington, Last Night. Two of the mine-sweepers which arrived this afternoon have a case of sickness aboard, one case being suspected influenza. The third vessel is Btated to be a clean ship.