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10
During the following year, 1898, the enormous growth of the import trade
in foodstuffs, particularly refrigerated and tinned meat of various kinds, and
the fact that occasionally large quantities of these goods were landed in an
unsound condition, called for serious attention.
Representations made were carefully considered, with a result that the two
senior Sanitary Inspectors were detailed for the work of food inspection
solely, two additional Inspectors being appointed for sanitary work, a third
being added in 1900.
This brought the number of Inspectors up to ten, which is the number
shown in the list on page 6 of this Report.
Meantime, a third steam launch—a small one—had become necessary in the
upper part of the Port, and for the purpose of affording occasional relief shifts
for the Gravesend boat.
The passing of the Aliens Act, 1905, which came into force on January 1st,
1906, necessitated an additional Medical Inspector for the special work of the
Act, while the recent Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907, with
the Regulations issued in the following year, enforcing more detailed inspection
of foreign meat, and generally strengthening the hands of Port Sanitary
Authorities in the matters of imported human food, have called for the special
organisation dealt with in another portion of this Report.
The foregoing is a mere sketch of the development of the Port of London
Sanitary Authority and its Staff, which, from a beginning 37 years ago of two
persons, numbers at the time of writing forty-six.
There can be no question that the influence of the Authority in the Port
has been wholly for the good of the public health, while in the administration
the strictest economy has been invariably the rule.
The standard of efficiency has always been high, and has been accepted as
a model in many other Ports at home and abroad.
The success of the Authority in its work so far has been due in no small
degree to the loyalty and devotion to duty of the members of the staff, some
of whom have now served the Corporation a considerable number of years.
The work is often arduous, requiring many continuous hours of duty by
night as well as day, exposed to all the trying changes of the English climate.
At such times I have always received willing assistance, although no system
of special payment for these extra services has ever been recognised.