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CHAPTER V.
ADMINISTRATION, STAFF.
During the year your Medical Officers acted professionally for
the Council in performing 49 clinical examinations of actual or
prospective staff and have provided a number of special reports to the
various Committees of the Council. This helps in securing a
medically sound personnel for all the activities of the Council and
enables special consideration to be given to any unusual incidence of
sickness, thereby maintaining a standard of efficiency difficult without
such a service.
In the Department itself during the year under review the
incidence of sickness was very high. This sick absence was occasioned
by severe medical and surgical incidents of a non-recurring character,
but nevertheless entailing considerable absence from duty during the
year. Those remaining on duty consequently were required to devote
themselves very conscientiously to their duties, in order to maintain
the standard within the Department, and I take the opportunity of
thanking the whole of the staff for their conscientious efforts, particularly
during this year.
It is very appropriate to draw attention to the new designation
of members of the Inspectorate. The change of name of these officers
brings their title "Public Health Inspector" more into line with the
duties they now perform. I think it will be agreed that they have
largely ceased to be sanitary police and are occupied on health
education in association with their inspections, rather than on securing
punishment for those who transgress in some minor way.
The Council, during the year, considered the possibility of paid
pupillage in the Public Health Inspectorate, but came to the conclusion
that the moment was not opportune for commencing this
particular activity which is likely to assist in recruitment to the
inspectorate of the country.
At the end of the year the threat of petrol rationing foretells a
possible curtailment of mobility in the future, but this will be met
optimistically and with goodwill in the New Year.
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