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32
were the only thing to be considered I would advise you to dismiss both
the inspectors and re-elect them, by which half their salary would be
paid by the County Council. At the present time it is impossible to
do the work as thoroughly as I should like, and it would be utterly
useless to appoint anyone who has not the qualifications I require.
I exceedingly regret that the report you presented to the vestry in
November should have been postponed, but, such being the case, the
time has now arrived when it should be again put before them. The
Act is now in operation and I cannot for one moment believe that, as
a sanitary authority, you will forego the advantages you will derive
from duly carrying out the intentions of the Act.
I will with pleasure attend the next meeting of the Vestry and
confirm your desire to strenuously enforce the recommendations your
report contained; but the Committee ought to know that at the present
time nothing whatever is being done towards putting into operation
any of the important and extended powers which the new Act places
in the Vestry's hands. If this is the desire of individual members in
the interests of the owners of small property, I cannot for a moment
imagine it to be the desire of the Vestry. Nothing more than has
hitherto been in practice is attempted, nor can it be attempted so
long as the appointment of additional help is refused; in fact, when
Inspector Ashdown leaves (on 20th inst.) the work of the sanitary
department will be almost at a deadlock, instead of advancing
according to the spirit of the times.
If there is no way of retaining Inspector Ashdown, I would suggest
that when you advertise for a man to fill his place you should also
advertise for the additional man proposed in my report last
September. The question of a temporary man for the under-ground
rooms for a couple of months is so small a matter that its being
refused is the more surprising, while the appointment of a clerk to
keep some of the many books and forms, and thus avoid employing
out-door officers on in-door work is not only economical but absolutely
necessary, if the sanitary work of the parish is to be organised in a
creditable manner.
Report of Sanitary Committee.
Having regard to the superior qualifications now expected of
inspectors, and to the higher salaries men possessing such
qualifications are able to command, and after giving the whole
question their most careful consideration, the Committee feel called
upon to submit the following recommendations, which are, for the
most part, and with the addition of the changes consequent upon
Inspector Ashdown's resignation, those which were made in their
report to the Vestry 011 11th November, £.and which were then
adjourned until after the new Public Health Act had come into
operation:—
a. That the necessary steps be taken at a special meeting to
revise the terms of Inspector Dee's engagement by fixing his
salary as from 1st February, at £150, rising by conditional
annual increments of £10 to a maximum of £"200.
b. That advertisements be issued inviting candidates for the
vacant inspectorship, between 30 and 45 years of age, to
possess the certificate of the Sanitary Institute of Great
Britain, at a salary of £150, rising by conditional annual