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14
Advice.—I expressed my confidence that reorganised on these up-to-date
lines, my department would prove equal to all reasonable demands on its
efficiency and energy and would fully justify the change, but unfortunately the
discussion of my scheme, although prolonged over a year and a half, has by
July, 1921, produced but feeble results. Recommendations 1, 2 and 4 have been
ignored and Nos. 3 (2), 5, 6, 8 and 9, have not been carried out.
As regards Nos. 2 and 4, Mr. R. J. Butland, the oldest male sanitary
inspector who held the ancient office of " Inspector of Nuisances ", is still left unwarded
and is responsible for no particular area and is still permitted to attend
the Public Health Committee and Council as well as the M.O.H., his superior
officer. Yet under the recent Act (The Public Health Officers Act) his old
title is abolished and he is now merely senior (by length of service) of the male
inspectors. An Inspector of Nuisances was always superfluous in a populous
place with a whole-time M.O.H. His annual report should be presented to the
Medical Officer of Health, who would incorporate anything of importance in his
own. Mr. Butland's annual report is not asked for by the Government as mine
is. I find that he was first invited to make one by the Council in 1900.
I speak from over 15 years' experience, when I say that harmony and
efficiency will be absent from the Public Health Department until my recommendations
Nos. 2 and 4 are fully carried out and the M.O.H., both in theory
and practice, is maintained as the sole head of the Public Health (Sanitary)
Department at the Edmonton Town Hall.
This principle was laid down by the Government in a Circular accompanying
the Sanitary Officers Order 1910, where it stated that "The Medical Officer
of Health must be regarded as the Head of the Public Health Department."
MARKETS.
In January an order was made requiring stall-holders on the Broadway to
remove their stalls on Saturday nights.
In March the Council agreed to allow the stalls in Silver Street and
the Broadway to continue for another three months, and in July their existence
was prolonged for a further three months.
In October the stall holders in Silver Street were provided with a proper
water supply and a dustbin; this latter convenience was also provided for those
on the Broadway. During this month their life was further prolonged for six
months.