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(2) All complaints of non-removal are made to the Health Department, whose duty it is to
see that nuisances arising from accumulations of this description receive prompt attention,
With the work of collection under the supervision of another Department dual
control is established, and it therefore resolves itself into the Health Department supervising
in some measure the work of another Department.
(3) The cost of supervision of the work under the present system is kept down to a low figure.
No sum either in respect of the Medical Officer of Health or the Chief Sanitary Inspector
has been allocated to this work, and no additional cost for assistance as respects supervision
has been incurred since the transfer from contract to direct labour.
Note.—When the Council collect the refuse from the whole of the District by direct
labour it will be impossible for the Chief Sanitary Inspector to be in touch with
the work by personal supervision without seriously encroaching on the time he
should devote to his ordinary duties relative to Sanitary administration.
(4) The Health Department has now been responsible for this work for a period of at least
30 years and the cumulative knowledge gained during that time is an advantage, the
value of which it is difficult to assess.
In my opinion no serious disadvantage to Public Health would accrue by the work of collection
of House Refuse being transferred to any other department of the Council, as the Health Department
would under any circumstances require to deal with nuisances and other conditions dangerous or
injurious to health arising from non.removal.
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.
APPENDIX P.
2nd January, 1920.
To the Chairman and Members
of the Health Committee.
HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION, ETC.
Extension of Municipal Hospital.
Sleeping Accommodation for Maids. Hours of Nursing and Domestic Staff.
Medical Superintendent's Residence. Small Pox Hospital.
I beg to report in accordance with the following minutes of the Council:—
Council Minutes—23rd January, 1917.
"Your Committee have referred to the Hospital Visiting Committee for consideration
and report the question of Hospital accommodation after the war."
Council Minutes—27th March, 1917.
"We have deferred the question of works after the war to our next meeting, so far
as the Hospital accommodation is concerned."
Council Minutes—22nd May, 1917.
"We have again deferred the question of works after the war so far as the Hospital
accommodation is concerned."
Council Minutes—25th September, 1917.
"We have considered letters from the Local Government Board dated 13th June,
1917, with reference to the extension of the Municipal Hospital after the War, and 18th
June, 1917, with reference to the provision of a Smallpox Hospital. We have referred
these letters to the Medical Officer for report in due course."
Council Minutes—24th September, 1918.
"We have inspected the Municipal Hospital and grounds. We report that the
quarters of the Ward Maids are not at all satisfactory and a suitably fitted post.mortem
room, etc., is requisite. We have instructed the Medical Officer to submit a scheme
dealing with the question of Hospital accommodation generally."
Council Minutes—24th June, 1919.
"We have deferred for a report from the Medical Officer of Health consideration of the
question of sleeping accommodation for maids at the Hospital."