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H. 31

In addition to the notifiable infectious diseases, measles has been very prevalent, and has principally affected children of school-age. Great carelessness is apparent with regard to precautions taken to prevent spread ; there is too great a tendency to look upon this as a childish complaint from which all children must suffer. Prom the vital statistics it will be noted that nine children have succumbed to this disease in Wellington and the suburban boroughs, and it is impossible to estimate the number who are suffering from or have succumbed to sequelae. There seems to be a great tendency amongst school-teachers to permit the return to school of pupils absent from this disease too soon after recovery and before danger of infection has ceased, and I have deemed it necessary in a few instances to call the attention of Education Boards to this when they have applied for the 10-per-cent. certificate. The reason appears to bo the system of remuneration of school-teachers on the attendance basis, and consequently anything which appears to them to cause a reduction in attendance is not favoured. Remarks in connection with notifiable infectious diseases are attached to the appendix on that subject. Works in connection with new sewerage schemes are in progress at Marton, Gisborne, Hastings, and Woodville, and it is proposed to extend the existing schemes at Feilding and Wanganui. Blenheim, Mangaweka, Westport, and Waitara propose installing new schemes of sewerage. A poll of ratepayers has been taken at Blenheim, and definite schemes are being considered. At Mangaweka a scheme has been approved, and is being put into operation. New water-supply works are being installed in connection with the sewerage scheme at Mangaweka. At Blenheim it is proposed to install a public water-supply, and this is being considered in conjunction with the sewerage scheme. Marton is also installing a new supply. At Wellington a new dam has been completed at Wainuiomata, which will greatly improve the city supply. With regard to dangerous infectious diseases, none having occurred in the district during the year, I have not made out an appendix for this. The only case regarding which any suspicion arose was one brought under notice by the medical attendant on account of slight pustular skin trouble having arisen. Attached hereto are appendices, being tables and data upon the following matters relating to this district : Notifiable infectious diseases, arranged in geographical order of hospital districts, with counties, boroughs, and town districts contained therein ; provision for infectious diseases ; Midwives Act; disinfection of oversea goods ; water-supplies and sewage-disposal; sanitary inspections ; special inspections by District Health Officer ; special reports by District Health Officer; sanitary condition of Native race ; legal proceedings : by-laws ; quarantine ; immigration restriction ; Sale of Food and Drugs Act ; legal proceedings under Sale of Food and Drugs Act. Herbert Chesson, M.R.C.S.(Eng.), D.P.H. (Lond.), &c, District Health Officer. Canterbury and Westlanu. To the Chief Health Officer. I have the honour to submit the following report for this district for the year ending 31st December, 1911. The district under my charge now comprises the whole of the South Island except the District of Marrlborough and of that portion of Nelson north of Inangahua County. Dr. Champtaloup is still responsible for the administration of the Public Health Act in regard to infectious diseases in the Otago District, but the administration of the district in respect to general sanitary matters was handed over to me shortly before the end of the year. Dr. Champtaloup is reporting on this district for this year. The most important work of the year has been the entire reorganization of the administration of the Public Health Act rendered necessary by the provisions of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1909, and its Amendment, 1910, which gave the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards entirely new powers under the Public Health Act. This change has caused a greater advance to be made in this district in the administration of public-health matters than has taken place since the passing of the Public Health Act and the institution of the Health Department. The Hospital Boards, with the exception of W T estland, accepted and carried out my recommendations with regard to the appointment of Inspectors and the carrying-out of their duties. I owe the Hospital Boards many thanks for co-operating so willingly with the Department in this matter. With one exception, whose period of office was very short, these appointments have, I believe, been entirely satisfactory to the Boards; and I think the Boards and the Department are to be congratulated on having been able to obtain as Inspectors an exceptionally good lot of men, who carry on their duties with tact and enthusiasm. Some of these Inspectors are proving very " handy " men, as, in addition to their routine duties, they have been able to assist the Boards in matters of heating, lighting, and drainage of institutions under the control of the Board. More use might be made of them in some districts in inquiring into the circumstances of persons in receipt of charitable aid, or who are indebted to the Board for Hospital treatment. The dual control of the Inspectors by the Hospital Boards and the Department, which might have been given as a theoretical objection to the scheme, has not as yet given rise to any friction, and, although no hard-and-fast rules are laid down on the matter, any difficulty in this way, may, I hope, continue to be an imaginary one. In carrying out this reorganization I received invaluable assistance from Miss Symes, as clerk, in rearranging files and dealing with the increased correspondence with local bodies. Miss Symes, who

7—H. 31.