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that good landlords will avail themselves in large numbers of the
gratuitous services of the Medical Officer of Health, not only to
obtain exemption from taxation, but with the knowledge that an
official certificate of the good sanitary condition of tho premises
they have to let will act as a premium to procure them desirable
tenants, and cause the houses to be readily let. It in may be assumed
that when the benefits of the Act are not claimed, that the landlord
tacitly admits that his houses are, fur some reason or other,
unwholesome.
The Act does not empower the Medical Officer of Health to
charge any fee for a certificate under it, and is in this respect a
somewhat unjust piece of legislation, for it imposes new duties of
a very onerous nature upon the Medical Officer, without making
any provision for his remuneration. In the Bill as originally
placed before Parliament, it was proposed that a fee of five
shillings, and one shilling extra for each set of rooms, should be
paid for each certificate. This proposal was negatived, and the
remuneration of the Medical Officer is left to be determined by
the Sanitary Authority.
Dr. Bate informs tho Committee that the new duties imposed
by this Act will take up considerable additional time for making
the necessary inspections. He respectfully requests that the
emoluments of his office (which remain the same as when he was
originally appointed fifteen years ago) may be reconsidered.
The Committee are of opinion that the whole question of the
duties and salary of the Medical Officer of Health should be
referred to a Special Committee, consisting of the members of the
Finance and Sanitary Committees.
The recommendation was adopted. The Special Committee
reported recommending that the salary of the Medical Officer of
Health be raised to £300 per annum. The Vestry approved, and
adopted the recommendation of the Committee.
The Vestry also approved a further Report of the Special
Committee recommending that the consideration of taking steps to
obtain payment by the London County Council of half the salary
of the Medical Officer be adjourned for the present.