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CHAPTER V.
ADMINISTRATION, STAFF.
During the year your Medical Officers acted professionally for
the Council in performing 58 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.
So far as the Inspectorate is concerned, there was depletion for
a large part of the year owing to illness, which culminated in the
untimely death of one Inspector in the early part of 1957. This
Inspector, Mr. Ernest Power, had rendered the Council loyal and
efficient service for 10 years. Early in 1957 Mr. Harold Young, the
Deputy Chief Inspector, was taken ill and unfortunately died some
months later. Mr. Young was also a loyal and efficient officer who
served the Council for 33 years. In addition to his Public Health
duties, he devoted much of his spare time to Civil Defence. Both of
these officers will be sadly missed in the Department, not only because
of their wide knowledge, experience, and devotion to the service of
the community, but also for their agreeable characters and other
personal attributes. We deeply mourn their untimely deaths.
This depletion of the staff has had serious repercussions on the
work of the Department and although it was felt in 1956 I regret
to say its effect on the work during 1957 has been more profound.
Great credit is due to the remaining staff for their constant and
earnest endeavours to cope with the unfortunate situation in which
the Department was placed.
In conclusion, I would express my thanks and appreciation to all
members of the Council, especially those who serve on the Health
Committee, and particularly the Chairman, for the admirable way in
which they have directed the policy of the Department during the
year.
I have the honour to be, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
E. GRUNDY,
Medical Officer of Health.
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