View report page

7
Whatever may be thought of Public Health Services it
cannot be said that they are very costly when, taken all together,
they only account for about 3¼d. out of a total rate
of 8/7.
I think it may justly be claimed that Public Health Work
gives a remarkably good return for the comparatively small
amount of money spent.
It is perhaps unfortunate that the return is not always
immediate and obvious.
If a large sum of money is spent on road-making there
results at least a certain number of yards of good smooth
road which all can see.
But for the Public Health Committee's modest outlay
there is nothing quite so tangible to show. Success in
Public Health Work means greater freedom from disease;
and the absence of disease does not force itself on our notice
in the same way that its presence does. Moreover, although
valuable immediate results are obtained perhaps the most
valuable of all are the results which are not immediate.
As I have endeavoured to indicate here and there throughout
the report, the full effect of some of the Public Health
Work that is being done to-day will only be apparent many
years hence. The writer and readers of this report will not
be there to claim the credit and we can only hope that generations
yet unborn will rise and call us blessed, inasmuch as we
have sown the seed and they are enjoying the fruit.
I have the honour to be,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
T. S. McINTOSH,
Medical Officer of Health.