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The Health Inspectors have recorded another full and very
useful year's work, considerable progress having been made particularly
in improving food hygiene. They have also been very
interested in the implications of the Rent Act, 1957. While the
Housing Department may have been more involved in anticipating
the immediate effects, the Health Department is more concerned
in ensuring that real progress results in the improvement and
preservation of the older houses in the District. Many undertakings
have been given that improvements will be made in justification
of the higher rentals. The results cannot yet be assessed
but they will be keenly supervised in the future.
Readers will note that, in accordance with your wishes, and
as a result of the general appreciation of the simpler terminology
of my 1956 Report, this has been adhered to, and it is hoped that
not only will public interest in the Health Services increase but
that still more students and older school children will find these
Reports of help in their study and understanding of "Civics".
One final word to them and one which I have tried to emphasise
throughout the last 26 years. Real health, which is finally
an individual responsibility, involves not only fine physical fitness
but an equally important wholesome state of mind and spirit. We
need to maintain a balance between these contributory factors in
the development of our personality and to strive to achieve the
highest level of which we are capable for the benefit of mankind,
the happiness and health of which must surely be our ideal.
In concluding, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, may
I express my thanks to the vast majority of the members of the
present Council and its predecessors for their interest and support
throughout the years. May the anticipated reorganisation of Local
Government result in greater opportunities for responsible and
enlightened decisions by the local representatives of the residents,
with a corresponding increase in their happiness and health.
Finally I would express my indebtedness to those of my
colleagues in the voluntary and official health, welfare, education
and other social services who have favoured me with their advice,
co-operation and, frequently, real friendship, which has increased
our effectiveness and happy relations. My Deputies have given
loyal support; may they experience decreasing frustration in the
years ahead. I have been particularly fortunate in the cordial
goodwill of the two Chief Public Health Inspectors I have worked
with in this District and would wish the present Chief and his colleagues
further happiness and success. Similarly, as I have no
other opportunity of expressing publicly my appreciation of the
valuable assistance I have received from the Health Visitors,
Nurses, Home Helps, my Chief and other clerical assistants, and
many others, who have contributed of their best in the local team,
may I do so now. I hope they will flourish as a recognisable,
efficient and progressive unit in the years ahead.
I am, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. R. EDBROOKE,
Medical Officer of Health.
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