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13
At the adjourned special meeting of the 31st August the Chairman's suggestion
was adopted that the M.O.H. and Inspector of Nuisances should draw
up a joint report in co-operation with himself, the Vice-Chairman and the
Chairman of the Public Health Committee, and submit such report in the first
instance to the Public Health Committee.
At the end of the year the important matter of reorganisation of my department
was still in a state of suspended animation.
These are the chief recommendations of my report:—
1. The appointment of a whole time Assistant M.O.H., who can carry
on when I am absent on holiday or through illness, and take over
Mrs. Outram's duties as Medical Adviser of the Maternity and
Child Welfare Centres, who is drawing a salary as part-time officer
at the rate of over £1,000 a year !
2. The district to be divided into four wards all the men inspectors to be
"warded", each one to be responsible for the sanitary conditions of
his area (I have now four women ward inspectors, so that there
would be a man and woman inspector in each ward).
3. That besides, special men inspectors should be appointed as (1) house-
to-house inspector; (2) inspector of food and meat supplies and
superintendent of the public abbatoir (when erected), supervisor of
the dairies and milkshops and to administer the Shop Hours Acts.
4. That the men engaged in Nos. 2 and 3 should be solely under the
supervision of the M.O.H. and report directly to him.
5. That the collection of house and trade refuse and the control of the
sanitary conveniences be transferred to the Engineer.
6. That the extravagant supply of disinfectants be stopped; it should be
obtained and distributed under the instructions of the M.O.H. only.
7. That sufficient and suitable office accommodation be provided for the
women officers. [This has at last been secured.]
8. That a Chief Clerk be appointed and that the sanitary inspectors be
divorced from all clerical work and so enable them to spend most of
their time in their proper sphere—outside the office.
9. That an office boy be added to the clerical staff who, with the yard
men, shall be managed by the Chief Clerk under my supervision.