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6
Considering the large number of school children, the working-class
character of the population, and our Isolation Hospital accommodation
below the standard laid down by the Local Government Board, the
infectious sickness rate is most favourable.
This result is mainly due to the better supervision exercised over our
schools than was possible heretofore, and under the circumstances the
necessity of further extensions at the Sanatorium does not seem urgent.
While recognising the great value of the Hospital in helping to prevent
the spread of infectious diseases, and the possible good results from
the adoption of the Notification of Births Act, your Authority, rather
than incurring further expense in these directions, would much more
likely do far greater service on behalf of the public health, by devoting
the money to the better and more efficient control of such diseases as
Measles and Whooping Cough.
The work entailed in the supervision and organisation of the medical
inspection of school children has been very considerable, and has occupied
a very great deal of my time.
In consequence the duties of the Medical Officer of Health and those
of the Sanitary Inspector have been more differentiated than heretofore,
and I have assumed no control or responsibility with respect to those
as carried out by Mr. West and his assistants.
In his Report will be found a full account of the work performed
under his authority, and I have therefore referred only to those matters
coming within my own knowledge.
With the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, new in force,
considerable power under section 17 is given to local authorities, and
sections 14 and 15 should make easier much of the work of the Sanitary
Inspector.
There need be no fear on the part of the landlords that thest powers
will be exercised in any but a fair and judicial spirit.
With this Act supplementing the numerous Public Health Acts
already adopted and in operation here, ample powers are given to
"raise the general standard of health, and to prevent sickness and presenile
mortality."