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39A
1 MAY, 1889.
It appears by such circular that by the Local Government
Act, 1888, the Local Government Board are empowered to
issue orders dealing with the matters referred to.
In cases where the appointment, qualifiation, salary, and
tenure of office of a Medical Officer of Health are in
accordance with the regulations made by such order one half
of the salary of such officer will have to be paid by the
London County Council.
If the appointment etc. of the Medical Officer of Health be
not in accordance with such order then no part of the salary
is payable by the County Council, but the Local Government
Board are still empowered to make regulations with regard to
the qualifiation and duties.
The order of the 28th March, 1889, accordingly deals with
the matter.
On investigating the duties to be performed by the Medical
Officer of Health your Committee find that they are identical
whether he be appointed under the order or not.
These duties will require the keeping of very accurate
statements and details, and your Committee beg to report
that the work of the Medical Officer of Health in this district
will be considerably increased.
Your Committee moreover find that whether any part of
the salary is paid by the County Council or not your Medical
Officer will be compelled to supply that Council with copies
of his Reports.
That your Committee are of opinion that as your Medical
Officer will of necessity be thrown into constant communication
with the County Council and its officers, that your Board
should act as far as possible in conjunction with the County
Council.
Your Committee are further of opinion that it is an evident
intention of the Act to assimilate the practice to what has
been found to work well under the Public Health Act.
Your Committee beg to draw your attention to the fact
that the Medical Officer of Health has now held office for a
period of nearly three years, and that so far as your Committee
have been able to understand he has proved a most efficient
officer.
That your Committee cannot but bear in mind that the
salary attached to the office was fixed in the first place at a
very low sum, in view that the person to be elected might
probably not be fully conversant with the duties, and therefore
in dealing with the question of salary your Committee have
taken into consideration that the Medical Officer might
reasonably request an increase in his salary if no alteration in
the position of affairs had taken place.
As already pointed out there will undoubtedly be a large
increase in the work of the Medical Officer and therefore