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I2B
The Local Government Board sent a letter to my Council, dated October
6th, asking what arrangements the Council had made for the discharge of the
duties of the absent officers. This was considered by the Sanitary Committee
on the 7th, together with that of August 12th, and a special report (dated 3rd
October) which had been sent by me to all the Councillors on the sad results of
the absence of officers on war service, showing also that the Authority was now
saving at the rate of over £391 per annum, owing to these posts not being filled
up, but at the risk of the health of the inhabitants. Yet vacancies on the Fire
Brigade were filled up at once. However, the Committee recommended:—
1. That no appointment be made to fill up the place of Dr. Rock, as
Assistant Medical Officer of Health.
2. That a substitute be provided in place of the Housing Inspector,
Mr. H. K. Nixon, at a salary of £2 per week.
3. That a temporary School Medical Clerk be provided at a weekly
salary of £110s. in place of Mr. Harold Dyer.
These recommendations were endorsed by the Council on October 13th,
who also instructed the Clerk to reply to the letter of October 6th from the
Local Government Board, but the Board's letter of August 12th was withheld
from the Council and never answered.
On October 13th, Councillor Sorrell asked that the Councillors should be
supplied with particulars of the terms of appointment, the date of my appointments
and the date on which any notice should be given and lapse.
On October 27th, the Board of Education wrote to warn the Education
Committee that further delay might involve loss of the Government grant for
the ratepayers.
The Sanitary Committee on November 2nd recommended that G. H.
Huckle be appointed as temporary Housing Inspector at £1 per week, and
J. Farrar temporary School Medical Clerk at the rate of £50 yearly; the
vacancy thus created of temporary junior clerk at the rate of £30 yearly was
filled up by F. J. Wood on 30th November.
Note.—Dr. Rock left us on July 13th; Inspector Nixon on September 9th.
School Medical Clerk Dyer on September 10th; School-nurse Playne on 9th
December ; and C. Hickford, the mortuary attendant, on 4th January, 1915.
The latter was replaced without delay by disinfector Madle and his post filled by
C. Adams. The post of Assistant Medical Officer of Health is still unfilled and
the salary of £50 yearly saved—at my expense.