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25
You will see from the memorandum that my view is
in favour of the Officer acting as a Health Visitor
rather than a Female Sanitary Inspector, but I do not
think my Committee will fall in with my suggestions
unless half of the salary of the proposed Officer be
repayable by the London County Council.
Unfortunately the Examiner of Claims of the London
County Council has taken up a somewhat unsympathetic
attitude towards the Borough Councils, as he absolutely
declines to recognise for recoupment any duties performed
by an inspector which are outside his
own rigid interpretation of the Order of the Local
Government Board of the 8th December, 1891.
It is now 14 years since this Order was issued and
apparently it does not contemplate that an Inspector
might be required to act as a Health Visitor in addition
to his other duties. In the circumstances obtaining
to-day the Order may be looked upon as antiquated, it
is therefore desirable that the Board should be
approached with a view to its revision.
I am strongly of 'opinion that any health work a
Sanitary Authority may direct an Inspector to perform
should be considered as within his or her proper duties
and should not give rise to a quibble as to repayment
of half salary.
Faithfully yours,
(Signed) GEORGE PADDOCK BATE, M.D.
Medical Officer of Health.