BOROUGH SANITATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2452, 17 March 1909, Page 3

BOROUGH SANITATION.

DISCUSSED BY THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.

The first open meeting of the recently formed Progressive League was held in the Farmers’ Union Club rooms, Masonic Buildings, last evening, to discuss the sanitary condition of Gisborne. A number of resolutions had been prepared, and these were circulated among the members. Mr. W. A. Crawford occupied the chair, and others present were Messrs F. Harris, R. M. Birred, W. Webb, J. B. Leyden, W. Aladdison, 4V. B. Mackie, F. Cowlrick, F. 11. Tra'ill, and H. Miller. The Chairman said that lie felt sure that if the weather had been fine there would have been- a larger attendance. The League was watching, with great pain, the financial positions and the inactivity" of the various local bodies in the district, and had taken upon its shoulders the work of watching over public interests, and attempting the work of reform. The League was only ten weeks old, and had been formed to awaken people to their own interests. The League had come to stay and hoped to show the people that the members had the true interests of the district at heart. One of the first things the League did was to wait upon the Prime Minister with some half-dozen requests, and had been favorably received, and some of the requests had been granted. The League hoped to be able to stir up the various councils to a sense of their full responsibilities. The League-also considered the borough loan proposals, and recognised that the town was not a credit to the people in its present condition, and that the method of administraiton was not one to be proud of. The League had also supported the candidates who favored an -outer harbor, and had been instrumental m placing Mr. Harris at the top of the poll. The Borough Council was almost dependent on the Charitable Aid Board, and the Cook County Council had almost qualified for the old men's home. The Harbor Board, thanks to one or two progressive members, was alone in a sound financial position. ’The Borough Council was helpless in carrying out Dr. "Mason’s suggestions to check the epidemic of enteric, because the Council was without funds, and the present condition of things was the result of the past. The only way to undertake a policy of cleanliness was to strike a special rate, and spend the money upon a general clean up of the town. The Cook County Council was unable to speiid money upon emergency work, because that body was almost without funds. The Council had spent- over £SOOO on new offices, and helped to bring the county into a bankrupt condition. That work should have been done on a special loan, at a low rate of interest, instead of tlie Council having an overdraft at 7 per cent. It was no wonder that the county had an overdraft of £19,000- when such expenditure was undertaken. The Borough Council was but a body of inert men, and Gisborne- was the laughing stock of the Dominion through a lack of men able to intelligently look after public affairs. If any man came into the Council with a progressive suggestion he was a disturbing element that prevented the councillors from having a qiret snooze. The Chairman then read the following motion—“ That in order to meet the present emergency of the spread of enteric fever, through the insanitary condition of parts of the borough, the Borough Council should be urged to -find the ways and means to strengthen up its sanitary staff, and have the nightsoil more frequently removed.” Mr. H. Miller moved that the resolution be adopted. He said that if the sealed pan* system, at an extra cost of from 16s to £l, was adopted, there would be a direct tax upon all property, which would pay the interest on an up-to-date sewage system. Most diseases arose through dirt, and it would be a good thing if all small back yards were kept free from poultry. Mr. R. M. Birred seconded the motion, and said that the trouble was that after the fever season passed over people became apathetic to sanitation, and the League should not lose sight of the necessity for drainage.

Mr. F- Harris said the trouble was that there was not sufficient sanitary plant to keep the town clean. Mr. Leydon thought the Council should carry out the by-laws rigidly, and employ an inspector that would see that the by-laws were carried out. He was not in favor of establishing a costly sealed-pan system, because the town must shortly undertake a drainage scheme.

Mr. Mnckio said he thought the inspectors had too much to do, and had not the plant to do the necessary work. 'Hie motion was carried unanimously. The Chairman read the following motions

“The Progressive League suggest that when closets are found in an unsanitary condition, or where large numbers of people have to be provided tor in boarding-houses and hoteus, the lkors of the closets should be concreted as recommended by Dr. Mason.” . “That the League considers Die suggestion of the sanitary < dicers to concrete the W-aikanae stream is too expensive to undertake at present in view of the sewage proposals lor the v.hole borough being brought forward, and the funds of the borough had tetter be conserved towards a more permanent or general scheme.” “That this League respectfully urge all householders of the borough to make a special effort to keep their yards and back premises as clean as possible and observe closely the sound advice given by the health otneer and Dr. Mason.” •

Mr. Harris said that he thought the question of. concreting the Waikanac crock could be held over by the Council until a drainage scheme was : carried. He also thought the householders should make a special effort to 'keep their pi-cruises clean, as it was no use spending public money if the people still remained indifferent to the health of the town.

Mr. Miller said .a’ good- deal of the sickness .among the residents near the Tv aikanae . was.; -because many of the houses,:were in.an millealthy state when f~l~i ft-Oitiiti nd yvo.ft.li J

It was pointed out that the Waikanac drain meant by Dr. Mason in his recommendations was not the main AVaikanc river, but a small creek that ran through a phinamanV garden in Lowe Street. Tlie motion dealing with the creek was then withdrawn and the other motions carried.

In moving “That the .views of the present Borough Councillors are so pronounced' on the sewage schemes now before them, and the election being to near, this League does not consider it advisable to make a recommendation either on tlie sewage or the sealed pan system, but! Heaves'both matters for consideration in the election of the new Council.” Air. Maddison said tlie time was not one to justify a panic, but the town must have a system of sewage. The cost of such -a system should not be more than about £6OOO a year, because the town was yet too small to stand n higher annual cost. Tlie question of road formation was associated with, sewage, because both depended upon -a proper system of drainage. The whole method of borough administration needed to be revised. Tlie inspector should bo relieved of some of his •minor duties so as to he able to attend more closely to sanitary matters. The town wanted a locally resident health officer, a medical man, who would give part of his time to keep a watchful eye upon t-he public health. In tlie past human lives had been staked against property, and property bad won every time.

Mr. Tustin said he did not desire to see a cheap, but an efficient sewage system independent of the coat.. He agreed that tlie District Health Officer should spend more of his time in Poverty Bay. The resolution was then carried unanimously. Air Tustin moved: “That the Borough Council bo asked to caVry .put the -sanitary by-laws in their entirety.” Mr. Harris asked if. Mr. Tustin had road the by-laws, as in any were very ancient.

Mr. Webb said the by-laws were Vlraft-ed three years ago, (and were quite workable. Mr. Mad (.“son thought the sanitary by-laws should be printed and distributed to the householders. Air. Tustin added the suggestion to his mol ion. Mr. Ley don thought it would be better if the by-laws were published in the press, and the householders requested to adhere to them as clearly as possible. * The motion was then altered ancl carried, so as to delete the clause asking the Council" to rigidly enforce the bylaws, and to take in Mr. Lcydon’s suggestion, as the meeting felt 'hat in some instances it would be impossible to enforce certain by-laws. Mr. Crawford then moved that the Council be asked to remedy the insanitary condition of the drain running through the- Chinaman’s garden in Lowe Street. Mr Harris thought the motion should be held over, so as to allow members to make inquiries as to who was responsible for the cleanliness of the drain.

A visitor said that some years ago the Council undertook the rcsponsibilty of keeping the drain clean. He thought borough inspectors 1 lould be -appointed by the Government so as to make such officers independent of local influence. The motion dealing with tlie stream was then withdrawn. The question of appointing Government inspectors was referred to the executive committee of.the League. Mr. Harris suggested that in view of the approaching elections an effort •should be made to place the names of all persons entitled to vote upon the borough roll. . A vote' of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close.