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33
The standard of work of sanitary inspection in the
Borough has, 1 believe, been raised during the past decade
from what was admittedly a very low standard to one
which will bear comparison now with that of any other
similar Borough. Whilst it is always desirable to strive
for an ideal in one's work, yet occasionally one may be
permitted to take a retrospect view and to derive encouragement
for the future, from what small success one may
have achieved in the past. Particularly is this the case
in the work of sanitary inspection, the greater part of
which is carried out necessarily without any publicity. By
reason of the very nature of the slow, quiet progress in
the work, it frequently happens that the public does not
realise what has, and is being accomplished, whilst the
officers engaged in the work may hesitate when faced with
fresh difficulties, overlooking the fact that possibly other
more numerous and greater difficulties have been overcome
in the past. This is, therefore, an opportune time to recall
that less than fifteen years ago there was no proper sanitary
inspection of the district, and no adequate supervision
over sanitary works in connection with dwelling houses.
Drains were altered and repaired without any real control,
and usually without even the Local Authority being aware
of the works. There was no systematic inspection of foodstuffs
or even of premises where food was prepared or
stored. These are but few of the conditions which existed
and which come to mind readily. There were others
which need not be recalled.
The record of work accomplished during the year
1930 will demonstrate, I hope, a very considerable change
in these sanitary circumstances in the Borough.
The year 1930 was not an easy one so far as the
amount of work was concerned, neither was it free from
difficulties, and so one may be forgiven for succumbing
to the temptation to review the past in order to derive
encouragement to advance still further.
The additional inspectorial assistance which your Public
Health Committee were considering at the end of 1929,
became effective in October, 1930, when Mr. G. Cockell, a
clerk in the Department, having qualified by examination,
was appointed an additional Sanitary Inspector. This
necessitated a change in clerical staff, and the benefit of
the additional assistance was not felt before the end of
the year.