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10
On the 13th July the Council appointed a special Committee to carry out
the formation of the National Register, ordered by the "National Registration
Act," of 15th July. This was completed on September 14th, and on 12th
October the Chairman, Cr. Cadman, presented a report of the vast amount of
work done—mainly by voluntary workers.
The Elections and Registration Act of 29th July, postponed the April
1916 elections of the Urban District Councillors for one year, and left casual
vacancies to be filled by co-option. Thus the term of office of every Councillor
was extended for one year. The elections in April, 1915, had taken place as
usual. This act also dealt with the list of parliamentary and local government
electors.
The celebrated "economy circular" of the Local Government Board,
dated 4th August, impressed upon local authorities the urgent need for strict
economy in every branch of expenditure, whether capital or revenue; that
whilst not unduly relaxing the standard of public health administration in their area,
local authorities should as far as possible refrain from requiring the execution of
work, the cost of which is to be borne by private individuals, unless the work is
urgently necessary for the removal of nuisances, or for the protection of Public
Health ; that every local authority should appoint a Committee to enquire and
report what savings in public health expenditure can be effected; and asking for
reports from time to time as to the nature and extent of any savings which
local authorities may have been able to effect. When this was submitted on
the 31st August, my Council appointed "an economy committee," composed of
nine members of the Council," to enquire into the woiking of the Council with
the object of reducing and re-organisin? the same to meet the present conditions
brought al out by the war." It presented interim reports dated 24th September
and the 22nd October, but had not finished its arduous labour by the end of
the year.
On the 26th October a letter was circulated by the Local Government
Board as to the establishment of Local Tribunals to decide what men should be
taken for war service. On the 4th November I offered to act, without fees, as
medical adviser to our Edmonton Tribunal in cases where physical unfitness
was alleged as a reason for non-enlistment, but my offer was not capable of
acceptance. The first meeting of our tribunal was held on the 1st December.
From December 14th Council meetings have only been held once a month,
and the Education Committee likewise.
THE STAFF OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
C. Hickford, the mortuary and laboratory attendant, left for army service
on January 4th; C. Adams took over J. Madle's work as disinfector and transport
officer in order that the latter might replace C. Hickford.