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nuisances, and, if so, to report them to the other inspectors and
get them removed.
17,679. In what business was this man before he was church
sexton, coroner's officer, sanitary inspector, and messenger ?— I
almost think he was something in the jewellery trade.
17,680. Do you think that the jewellery trade is a specially
beneficial training for sanitary inspection ?— No, but for the
duties that we require of him he needed no particular training;
for instance, a messenger would not require a very high
training.
17,681. But if he is employed in surveying would he not
require training?— Then he acts under the medical officer of
health and the other inspectors. He is not expected to take upon
himself any personal responsibility.
17,682. Would you mind giving your opinion as to what
training would be most suitable for the sanitary inspectors ?— I
do not know that any special training is required. If a man was
endowed with good common sense I think that would be about
as good a training as he could have.
17,683. If you were going to buy a house for yourself and you
wanted to know the sanitary condition of it, so as to ensure the
safety of the health of your family, whom would you employ ?—
I should employ a surveyor.
17,684. Does it not necessarily follow that the sanitary inspector
to be fit for his business must have some practical knowledge
of building and surveying ?— Not necessarily.
17,685. Would it not be as necessary to have a practical man
to inspect the sanitary condition of the homes of the people as it
would be, say, for the home of any member of the Commission ?
— We have our regular practised inspectors for that purpose who
know their duty well, and it is very soon picked up and acquired
after a very short instalment into office.
17,686. But the knowledge of building construction, and
drains, and the science of ventilation is not picked up, is it, as a
rule ?— That knowledge is very soon picked up so far as a
sanitary inspector will be required to exercise it; but as a rule
a surveyor would be resorted to in all questions of that kind.
17,687. At any rate your third sanitary inspector was trained
as a jeweller?— I think that was his trade, but I will not be
certain. All I know is that he is a very useful officer, so far as
we require his services, whatever his original trade was.
17,688. I think I understood you to say that you had known
a case in your parish where the sanitary inspector was discharged
?— Yes.