The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-04-13 00:00:00

I.

Etc 3tottriyible i4sertar.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 187:1.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

At the opening of the present session among
the promises of the royal message was the fol-
lowing:—" There will likewise be laid before
you legislative provisions founded on the report
of the Sanitary Commission." This report, it
is well known, revealed a sad state of things in
large proportion of the towns and districts of
England. Li no one case were the sanitary con-
ditions of any one place found satisfactory. The
facts made public by the Royal Commissioners
must have astonished many who read them; but
all who have paid atteution to the too prevalent
neglect of sanitary laws, natural and legislative,
know that this neglect has always in the history
of our country been serious, and that we have
not advanced in this respect as we have ad-
vanced in science, art, and industry. Indeed,
in many respects, we have retrograded, and cer-
tainly on the whole our WiiM sanitary regulations
have not kept pace with our population. At the
beginning ot the present century there were only
fifty towns in England and Wales with a popu-
lation over 10,000; now there are 192. Then
there was only one town, except London, with a
population over 100,000; now there are seven-
teen such towns. It is high time, therefore, that
legislation should do t.ll that legislation can do
in favour of sanitary reform.
That the Public Health Bill, brought in by
Stansfeld, and which has passed its second
reading in the House of Commons, will effect all
that is required we cannot assert; but if it be-
come law, with seine judicious modifications in
committee; it will undoubtedly promote that
solus populi which we are told is the highest ob-
ject of all law. This measure will bring into
operation many of the powers of the Local Go-
vernment Board that now lie almost unused, and
will confer other powers. Under its operation
inspectors will be appointed to act generally or
specially according to circumstances. By the
central authority of the Local Government
Board, and by the agency of inspectors, we may
look for the enforcement of sound regulations
relative to the adulteration of articles of food
and drink, the pollution of rivers, defective
drainage, &c. The bill does not in any way in-
validate the wholesome principle of local self-
government, but it brings a central authority to
bear upon this principle. Local authorities will
still be able to administer local affairs, but the
Local Government Board will see that they are
administered, and this for the interest of the
district, and therefore for that of the commu-
nity. Dr. Lyon Playfair, in referring to the
provisions of the bill, remarked that it lays
down the important principle that every inhab-
itant has a right to pure air, pure water, and
pure soil. We have long recognised this in
theory, but in practice facts have been too strong
for no, while in sonic respects local authorities
have bad greater powers than they were aware
of. The Public Health Act will define and en-
force existing or new powers, and the fact of
these powers being brought out and carried into
operation, must inevitably promote that sani-
tary reform which a Royal commission brooded
over for three years. One of the chief merits '
of the bill, is its compulsory character in certain
respects, and the enforcement of the principle
of responsibility. That the bill will become law
we have no doubt; and we are equally convinced
that it will produce most beneficial effects. The
House of Lords is not likely to oppose any ob-
stacles to its passing. Though a Government
measure it is not a party measure. Politics have
nothing to do with it, and men of all shades of
political opinion may welcome the passing of a
long contemplated scheme for effecting that sani-
tary reform, which is one of the greatest wants
age.