Mr Harper on Sanitary Laws.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 369, 26 October 1889, Page 3

Mr Harper on Sanitary Laws.

[to THI EDITOR.] Sib, —I would like to state a few facts in reference to the above subject. I feel that it would be wrong were none of ue to speak out, before the dreadful summer is upon ue. It doesn't require a man with a head as long as his arm to predict, and pretty confidently, * about this time expect fever !’ Our odoriferous household refuse, decaying vegetable matter, and other pleasant things, are responsible for one half the cases of fever, diarrhcea, dysentery, etc., with which Gisborne is afflicted every summer. The culpable carelessness of householders is another prolific source of danger. If the Council oannot see its way to collect the rubbish which accumulates from time to time at places in Gisborne, let the persons responsible for its acoumulation be compelled to bury it, under pain of a heavy fine. To allow tons of fever breeding filth to fester in. the blazing sunshine is criminal.

Children are the greatest sufferers from the diseases springing from bad sanitary arrangements, and when death stalks into the home and snatches one of the little ones away, it is the fashion with some people to talk with Christian resignation about its being ‘ God’s will,’ and that kind of thing. Now, when parents neglect all sanitary precautions, and their children sicken and die in consequence, and they try to shift the responsibility from their own shoulders to those of Providence, they are guilty of unpardonable meanness, to use no harsher term. God helps those who help themselves; remember that, my friends; and while I would have you trust in Providence, I would at the same time most earnestly recommend you to look after your drains this hot weather, to bury your rubbish, and to keep a good supply of disinfectant on band. Don’t shirk your responsibilities and then hunt up Scripture texts to justify your conduct I am, etc., Habpbb. [Mr Harper's excellent advice will probably be appreciated according to its worth, and all sensible houtehnlders will no doubt wish him a long and happy life : ao do we, and a merry Christmas into the bargain. Bit we would respectfully point out that there are already laws in existence to prevent the creation of nuisances, and there is also an energetic Inspector, who should be communicated with by Mr Harper if that gentleman knows of any fever breeding filth festering in the blazing sanshine, That would be more busines«-lii-e—and wo are not aware that it would ho an infringment of Divine laws—• than {lightening nervous people by exposing evils (imaginary or otherwise) to the blazing light of noonday through the columns of the Gisborne newspaper.