THE HEALTH OF GISBORNE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2448, 12 March 1909, Page 4

THE HEALTH OF GISBORNE.

Ifc was soniethingjof what the Americans aptly designate “a heart-to-heart talk” that took place last night when Dr. Mason’- reported- -to the Borough Council! upon the result of his investigatiouri in certain parts of the town, The conclusions of the Chief Health Officer were much the same as those which wo have for some time endeavor-' cd to impress upon tiio local authorities as well as, the public generally. .Or. -Mason did not say Gisborne is “dirty,” he is too courteous a gentleman and much too tactful to use. such an illsouuding term, but lie. said a good (leal that may pass as an equivalent. “Since F.ve been -in Gisborne/’ declared the health expert,;■ ! 'l’ve seen, more dies, than I’ve seen for a long time.” His additional statement that he had photographed a. nest of flies upon a joint of .meat in o butcher’s shop and another swarm in .an open privy not 20 'feet away, was eloquent testimony, to the defiance of sanitary/ laws "which takes place , in . Gisborne..., The : ..Chief, officer Tduhd“thi’dugi)Out _ the toivir that Jsinf.-bn ~fll vMonttfiSctedi that.

it is imporsirne for them to ho in other than a filthy condition, and to this lie mainly attributes the prevalence of typbmd'. ITo urges that the Council .should insist .-upon every kogso being provided witii a properly constructed privy, arid the details which lie supplied showed that this wc-uld not he an expensive matter to individual owner?. In this'eonnc-ction .wo • would suggest that if. ventilators, passing from under the seat to above the roof, were fitted to each, as- they could be. at a moderate cost, tho.: result would bo a vast improvement. Dr. Mason also advocates tho immediate adoption or. tlie sealed pan system; Wo Ifavc before pointed ■out that .Gisborne ii at. present-using the most filthy method •conceivalile, and after hearing the Chief Health Offieci the Borough Councillors must have come to the same conclusion. Let us hope they wiH lose no time in getting tho ■ sealed .pan system into uoikmg ofd cr! In Vega rd to sc wc ra go, Dr. Mason is naturally in favor of the water carriage system, wlu.ch :s admittedly the most- perfect that could he employed. .With him wo hope that »ome proposals will bo prepared and submitted to the ratepayers in such a form that they can reasonably be expected to sanction them. In this connection it is worthy of mention that Dr. Mason holds that it .is ridiculous for laymen to attempt to adjudicate between tue lixal schemes of different engineers, and our visitor’s' suggestion that in cases of such differences the advice of outside experts should be secured appears worthy of consideration. Dr. M-acon in his brief journey threugh the borough was naturally sho.'ked to find that a butclier’s' slioji existed in the centre of the town which has absolutely no provision for drainage of any kind, so that all slops have to be thrown upon the hack yard light at the front door of a dwelling house which somehow or other had been permitted to he erected tlici*o without frontage on ' any. .street or road, mad time permitted, the Doctor could, we fear, have multiplied many times the number of cases quite as serious in character in • which the Council has failed to enforce its own by-laws. In the discussion which followed the Councillors seemed dhposed to adopt Dr. Mason’s suggestions, and it Is to be hoped that in the urgent situation that hr.s arisen they will display sufficient ontvgv to . formulate a definite policy and see that it is carried out. In the meantime wo would urge upon ali home-holders the wisdom ef attending to-night at the Theatre, when the Chier Health Officer-will dr.c.ius direct with the people tho health of tho town. Ihe opportunity'is one that is seldom available, and as Dr. Mason is a fluent, forcible. and most interesting speaker, and his'subject is cf tho utmost importance.'we trust he iVill be greeted bv a large audience.