View report page

5
"There is perhaps no profession, however useful; no
pursuit, however meritorious, which can escape the petty,
attacks of vulgar minds."— Charles Dickens.
Town Hall,
Edmonton, N. 9.
To the Chairman and Members of the
Edmonton Council.
Mrs. Benjafield & Gentlemen.
I herewith present my 13th Annual Report on the health and sanitary
circumstances of this Urban District. It refers to the year 1918.
The second Ministry of Health Bill has now been placed in the Statute book
as the Act of 1919, and District Councils have received a welcome infusion of
"new blood" in April last. The two factors are expected by some optimists to be
certain to produce a sanitary millenium. I am not so sanguine, as I know that
other reforms are necessary to achieve this ideal—(I) The consolidation of all the
Public Health Acts since 1875, with amendment, where necessary, to bring
them up to date, and the removal of redundant or contradictory clauses; (2) that
every Councillor should be honest and intelligent, if not highly educated; (3)
that the officials, who have to faithfully carry out the measures ordained by
legislation and the Government, should be secure of tenure and superannuation.
On December 31st, 1918, owing to absence on war service, the following
posts in my department were still unfilled and to them no temporary appointments
have been made :—
1. Assistant and Deputy M. O. H. 2. School Medical Clerk.
3. Housing Inspector 4. General (4th) Male Inspector.
I myself have carried out, as far as possible, the duties of the first two since they
joined the forces. For these and other extra services I have neither asked for,
nor received payment. But in justice to the work, and in view of the strain
on my health thereby involved, I cannot continue this overwork indefinitely.
The Education Act of 1918 and the establishment of a School Clinic in the
immediate future will certainly bring more work and responsibility for administration
on me as S. M. O. and it is probable that one sixth of my time will not
suffice for carrying out my old and new duties. This can easily be arranged for,
if I am relieved of most of the routine executive work by an Assistant M. O. H.
I gratefully acknowledge the help received from members of my staff and the
heads of other departments.
I am
Your obedient servant,
SIDNEY C. LAWRENCE,
28th August 1919. Medical Officer of Health.