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of Public Health are, I believe, not yet publicly realised, or if
realised are not acted up to; to allow a preventable illness
to incapacitate a worker in whatever office of work, is the
shortest way to national bankruptcy, but even to-day we tend
to be apathetic towards prevention of disease. A happy omen
is that many traders in foodstuffs are leading public opinion
by making hygiene in production one of the essentials of their
trades—not only this, but many large business firms have
shown that it pays to promote schemes for the health
of their employees. What pays in trade pays in local
government. Acts of Parliament will not make a healthy
people unless the exercise of those Acts is desired by
the people, and it is this principle in the Government
of England which must govern our policy in Public
Health—we must continue propaganda on the fundamentals
of Health. We have a long way to go to a health
enlightened people, we cannot expect results in a year, but
we can be justifiably optimistic, knowing that the great
successes of the past years will be small compared with the
future.
Several new Statutes and Regulations affecting the
Department came into force and were enacted during the
year 1925. The Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915
(September, 1925) Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis)
Regulations, 1925, The Public Health Act, 1925, The Housing
Act, 1925, The Tuberculosis Orders, 1925 (Nos. 1 and 2), and
the Public Health (Meat) Regulation, 1924 (April 1st, 1925).
I would like to take this opportunity of extending to the
Health Committee my appreciation of their consideration and
help during the first year of my office, and of personally
acknowledging the very able and willing assistance I have
received from each member of the Health Department.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Lady and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
K. E. TAPPER,
Medical Officer of Health.