Page:Municipal Handbook of Auckland 1922.djvu/223

 by the City Engineer. Until a year ago all plumbing and drainage was done under the Department's direction: its inception necessitating the preparation of by-laws, the teaching, examining, and licensing of plumbers and drainers. Practically all premises in the City were re-drained in accordance with the requirements of the by-laws, and the owners of some 8,000 places dependent on the conservancy system were compelled to connect with the sewers.

The work of the Sanitary Department is largely based upon and governed by the following Acts of Parliament, namely, the "Municipal Corporations Act," the "Public Health Act, 1900," and "Health Act, 1920." An epitome of these follows:—

This Act requires first consideration, not only as the foundation of municipal administration, but as the main support of the activities of the Sanitary Department since its inauguration. In its present form, as consolidated in 1920, it is the principal source of authority for by-laws relating to sanitation in its widest meaning.

Under this Act, "the Council may do all things necessary from time to time for the preservation of the public health and convenience, and for carrying into effect the provisions of the 'Health Act, 1920,' so far as they apply to boroughs."