View report page

To the Chairman and Members of the
Edmonton Urban District Council.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have pleasure in presenting my Report for the year 1933 on the
sanitary conditions of the District of Edmonton and on the vital statistics
of its residents.
The Report is drawn up in accordance with suggestions outlined in
Circular 1346 of the Ministry of Health.
Undoubtedly the outstanding feature of the year from a sanitary
point of view was the work done in connection with the Clearance Areas :
full reference to this is made under "Housing."
There are bound to be from time to time individual houses which
cannot be made properly fit for habitation without undue expenditure,
and these must come under the operation of the Housing Act of 1930,
but there are no blocks of houses, apart from those above, which merit
treatment as "Clearance Areas."
There is, of course, old property in the district, which, in process of
time, will eventually end in demolition, but these houses still serve a
useful purpose and the term "slum" cannot be applied to them.
I am sorry to record the resignation of Mr. J. Winter, the Senior
Sanitary Inspector since January, 1926, and who had been a servant of
the Council for close on forty years.
In Mr. Winter's retirement, the Council has lost a conscientious
employee and the Staff of the Department a loyal colleague.
In his place was appointed Mr. W. Tillcock, who had been in the
employ of the Council for thirteen years.
Mr. E. Dodsworth filled the vacant post of District Sanitary Inspector,
commencing his duties on November 6th.
The work of the Public Health Department continues to increase and
one looks forward to the time when it will be possible to increase the
clerical staff : at present it is impossible owing to lack of accommodation.
There is one general office, and that houses four Sanitary Inspectors,
the Shops Acts Inspector, and three clerks.
A new Town Hall, with its suggestion of commodious accommodation,
would prove a very great boon.
I should like to take this opportunity of thanking the members of
both Committees for their courtesy and help during the past year, and
my colleagues for their loyal support.
I am,
Your obedient servant,
H. W. HARDING.
5