SANITARY INSPECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1920, Page 3

SANITARY INSPECTION.

NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT. The need for something more definite being done in regard to sanitary inspection was emphasised by various members of the Taranaki Hospital Board at the meeting yesterday,- when dissatisfaction was also expressed with the present system. Mr. Halcnmbe pointed out the frequency with which cases of typhoid fever and other infectious diseases cropped up in different parts of (lie district, and he contended that something more definite should be done than was apparently being done at present, to trace these diseases to ilieir origin. Was anything, he asked, being done to ensure the systematic inspection of milking sheds? The chairman said that farmers who supplied milk for human consumption were under license, and had their sheds inspected. Mr. TTalcombo said that he knew that, farmers who supplied milk for consumption had their sheds inspected, but dairy factories also supplied butler for linma'n consumption, and he wanted to know if dairy farmers were under any obligation to have their sheds 'lispect'ed and he knew of sheds that were not, lit for anyone to go into. It was probable thai cases of typhoid really originated in some such sheds. They never got a report from the authorities who traced the disease as to where it originated. While not wanting to harrass farmers unduly, he thought the matter of inspection should be carried further than it was at present. Other members agreed. The chairman said that lie felt very much annoyed at the absolute want, of system of sanitary inspection. He had frequently called attention to the matter, but could get no redress. So far as he knew no proper effort had ever been made to discover the origin of the cases of enteric fever which were constantly cropping up. The inspector was under no obligation to report to-the board, his duty being to report to the Health Department. The Hospital Board's duty at present seemed to be to pay the sal'ury. However, a change would' conic inio operation at the beginning of the year. The Department had appointed Dr. Monk chief sanitary inspector, with headquarters at Wanganui, and the sole responsibility of sanitary inspection would he placed on the various local bodies in the hospital districts, but he doubted whether this would be any improvement. Mr. Halcombe thought that members of the Board should have an opportunity of meeting Dr. Monk when he wished New Plymouth.