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50
Inspection of Drainage, &c., of New Premises.
Prior to 31st Jul}', this work had been carried out under the
directions of the Works Committee, but after a joint meeting of the
Works and Public Health Committees this duty was transferred to
the Public Health Committee; the prevailing opinion being that the
Committee responsible for the sanitary condition of occupied premises
and the health of their inmates, was the proper body to determine
the manner in which dwelling-houses, &c., should be drained.
In my opinion it would conduce to better working were the
actual supervision of the drainage and all other sanitary works in
connection with new premises, transferred to the Public Health
Department.
It has, on certain occasions, happened that on the inspection by
a Sanitary Inspector for a Water Certificate, infringements of Byelaws
have been discovered, which have presumably escaped the eye of
the officer whose duty it was to supervise such buildings.
This necessitates the issuing of notices, &c., and may lead to a
conflict of official opinion and authority.
Under the present system, I do not see how these difficulties
are to be overcome, as the dual control above-mentioned, and the fact
that the supervision of new buildings is conducted by an official who
is not only not a qualified Sanitary Inspector, but whose most important
duties are in connection with the inspection of, and maintenance of,
Sewers, interfere with that efficient control of all new drainage as could
be ensured were this duty in the hands of the staff of the Health
Department.
Slaughter-houses.
These premises, five in number, have been periodically inspected
during the year, and on the whole have been well maintained and the
processes carried on therein conducted in such a manner as to conform
with the Bye-laws.