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become fixed and incurable. The Remedial Exercises Clinic at
Pump Pail and the Massage Clinic at Lodge Road have done useful
work in their endeavours to cure and to prevent cripples.
Propaganda.—No spectacular efforts have been made. It is
felt that the best propaganda is steady work, for the basis of all
Public Health work is education. The time of the medical and
nursing staff is not so much spent in mending damaged goods as
in advising and teaching how damage may be prevented. The
localised edition of "Better Health" has been continued; 4,000
copies being distributed monthly. Addresses have been given, on
request, to several of the Ratepayers Associations in the town.
The audiences have not always been large, but their smallness
has been compensated for by the interest displayed. There is, however,
still widespread ignorance of the scope and aims of Public
Health services. It is to the advantage of the work for its extent
to be widely known and to this end a small handbook has been
drawn up and circulated in the town.
Ignorance of its objects or lack of interest in its activities are
the greatest obstacles to a proper valuation of the Public Health
Services in force throughout the country. In a time of financial
stringency illness is extravagance. Schemes which have as their
object the betterment of health, and the reduction of avoidable
ill-health, are economies, not luxuries.
In conclusion I wish to tender my thanks to the Chairman and
Members of the Public Health Committee, the Menal Deficiency
Committee, the Housing Committee and the various Sub-Committees
for the sympathetic consideration they have given to proposals
I have submitted to them, and for the interest they have
taken in the work of the department.
The staff have carried out their duties in a satisfactory manner,
and especially I wish to mention the large and increasing amount
of work carried through by the clerical staff. The Local Government
Act, 1929, brought additional responsibilities which they
have undertaken without any augmentation in their personnel. Dr.
W. B. Watson, the Deputy Medical Officer of Health has continued
his unfailing and unstinted help at all times.
I am ,
Yours faithfully,
OSCAR M. HOLDEN.
Medical Officer of Health.