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enticement of Inspectors from one town to another which is
responsible for these frequent changes; this is greatly to the
detriment of the services, owing to loss of continuity of thought
and action which I believe to be the very essence of efficient
work in a Health Department.
It might not be out of place to record here the retirement
in October of Mr. George H. Duffield, the Chief Sanitary
Inspector, who served this ancient Borough so well and so long.
I think he is best remembered for his work as a food inspector
and on the wharves where he excelled as my assistant under
the Imported 'Food Regulations—his cheery disarming smile
overcame many difficulties.
The Council were fortunate in replacing Mr. Duffield by
Mr. Harold Archer, an inspector who has been brought up in
Public Health Departments from youth and has had a vast
experience in all branches of the service. Archer, like
Duffield, also has a cheery smile, and I am confident
that the Council chose well, and that he will carry on faithfully
the traditions of the Council's Health Services of which
it is so justly proud.
The housing situation remains acute and my remarks in my
last Annual Report are as true today as they were then.
In the section dealing with Food it will be seen that over
1700 tons of food were examined during the year of which
almost one-third was found to be unfit for human consumption.
This is a high proportion and at times of shortages, as at
present, it is a serious matter. There were several reasons for
these losses, the main ones being inadequate processing by the
manufacturers and too long storage. The Health Committee
has been most concerned about the high percentage of condemnations
and have drawn the Minister of Food's attention to
the matter on more than one occasion. The Minister has now
taken action and has requested full particulars on each
occasion it is found necessary to condemn tinned food.
In the early part of the year the Old People's Welfare
Committee was formed, and towards the end of the year it
was found necessary to appoint a whole-time secretary. The
Committee were fortunate in obtaining the services of Miss
Morris, who had had considerable previous experience with
the Wimbledon Old People's Welfare Committee.
Once more I wish to thank the members of the Council, the
Public Health Department staff, and the Chief Officers and
staffs of other Departments for their loyal co-operation.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient servant,
W. STOTT,
Medical Officer of Health.