708 TOWN SANITATION. 
were struck out. The purpose of all sanitary work is doubtless 
to bring about the extinction of preventible diseases, and if this 
point is ever to be reached, then immediate, correct, and syste- 
matic information as to the place where and when any outbreak 
has arisen must be forthcoming. It is self-evident that unless 
the information is speedily transmitted to the proper authority, 
the opportunity is lost for the limitation or suppression of the 
epidemic. This information cannot, however, be secured without 
legislation. The committee admit that they are aware of the 
difficulties that seem at present to surround the practical working 
of the principle, but they are none the less strongly impressed 
with the conviction that there exists a real necessity for compul- 
sory notification being brought into operation. 
Jointly with compulsory notification, the importance of legal 
power being vested in the Central Board to deal with any outbreak 
is likewise self-evident. The Central Board has power now to 
deal with smallpox, cholera, plague, yellow fever, and leprosy. 
Seeing, however, that but one of these diseases, viz., smallpox, 
and that in a single instance only, has appeared in the colony, 
while other preventible diseases are permitted to stalk abroad, it 
is not an unfair inference to say, that with the appearance of 
having some legislation, nothing is in reality laid down by the 
law having the object of preventing the extension of infectious 
diseases. It is to be feared that the indifference that prevails on 
this point is due to the misconception that heavy expenses would 
be entailed by carrying out stringent regulations of isolation and 
quarantine. The actual outlay could not be large, while the 
saving effected by the prevention of disease would be very great. 
It is very desirable that the central authority should have a 
full opportunity of demonstrating to the public the advantages of 
checking outbreaks of infectious diseases in their initial stage. 
If this could be done, assuredly the public interest in sanitary 
work would be stimulated, and with every repetition of such 
evidence the public mind would come to appreciate more keenly 
the labours of sanitarians in seeking to secure to every member 
of the community health and longevity. 
It now only remains for the committee to state that the 
following documents are on hand for reference should any future 
committee, following up the “Town Sanitation” of the other 
colonies, desire to do so on the lines suggested in the early part 
of this report :—Reports on the towns of Roma, Rockhampton, 
Queensland ; Kiama, Bathurst, Lithgow, New South Wales ; 
Warrnambool, Ballarat, Clunes, Victoria ; Masterton, Wellington, 
New Zealand ; Launceston, Tasmania. Also able reports from 
Messrs. W. A. Billing, Esq., F.V.I.A., and Lloyd Taylor, Esq., 
F.R.I.B.A., architects of Melbourne, and George McRue, Esq., 
City Building Surveyor of Sydney, on the Building Acts of 
Victoria and New South Wales respectively. 
