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23
"Wo are not, as the vote proved, desirous as a body to shelve this
important question; but the ruling members of the old Sanitary
Committee—who love power and position rather than Parish
purity—oppose by every possible moans any alteration in the
sanitary autherity.
"This committee for many years has been presided over by two
comparatively rich men, who were practically the sanitary
autherities of the parish. Some good work has been done
through prossure of public opinion; but whom they would they
condemned, and whom they would they condoned. They had
the entire control of the two inspectors; they seldom reported
to the Vestry, and only then when work beyond their powersuch
as Torrens's Act, &o.—made it absolutely necessary.
"As for back as 1885 the medical officer wished the inspectors to
roport to him daily, that ho might direct their actions. The
senior inspector (who had been a stationer) objected, to use his
own exprostion, 'to work in loading strings,' and preferred to
be responsible to the committee only. The committee virtually
supported him by adjourning the subject for six months, and it
has never been revived, notwithstanding the fact that twentyseven
out of thirty-eight Metropolitan parishes have seen the
wisdom of the medical officer directing this important department.
"The reformers finding it impossible to curry this recommendation
in committee, I was obliged to move the following amendment
in opposition to my own colleagues:
"That, in the opinion of the Vestry, the important work of the
Sanitary Department should be placed under the control and
guidance of a practical and responsible officer as head of the
staff. This, I am glad to say, was carried by 16 against 3.
"I am, 8ir, yours faithfully,
"Oval House, Flacknoy Road, "John B. Kyffiw.
"November lGth."
The letter was referred to the Sanitary Committee, who reported
as follows:—
1. That the statements made in the second paragraph of the letter
are found not to be based on facts.
2. That the statements in the third paragraph of the letter are also
found not to be based on facts.
The Sanitary Inspectors have always been directly responsible
to the Sanitary Committee as a Committee, and not to any two
Members of the Committee, as practically the Sanitary Autherities
of the Parish.