( 39 )
Appendix
X.
ledge of the principles and practice of sanitation than any other medical man in the Government service of this Colony, while I also have a very special knowledge of our somewhat complicated sanitary laws.
(4.) I consider therefore—
(a.) that the Sanitary Board should continue to exist, either in its present or in an improved form, and that the Board should-so far as it may be allowed to do so by the Government-direct the policy of the Depart- ment and regulate such matters as are deputed to it by Ordinance, just in the same way as the policy of the Public Works Department is regulated by the Public Works Committee of the Legislative Council while leaving the Director of Public Works to carry out the details of administration;
(b.) that the Medical Officer of Health should be recognized by the Govern- ment as the Head of the Sanitary Department. He should consult the Board on all matters involving a change of policy or an increase of staff, and keep them thoroughly well informed as to the progress of sanitation in the Colony and the general health of the community, but that all the details of the administration of the Department should be left in his hands.
Hitherto the head of the Sanitary Department has been the President of the Board, who may at one time be the Director of Public Works, at another the Captain Superin- tendent of Police,' and at another the Principal Civil Medical Officer, but in any case it is an officer who has a Department of his own to control and who therefore has very little time to attend to other work. As a matter of fact the great bulk of the work of the Department is already controlled by me, both as Chief Executive Officer of the Board, and as the representative of the Board, duly vested under Ordinance with the full powers of the Board to deal with all matters relating to nuisances, and by virtue of this power I direct much of the correspondence that is issued from the office.
Dr. STEDMAN. Whom do you direct?
Dr. CLARK.-The Secretary. I direct him to write certain letters in my capacity as representing the Board.
Colonel HUGHES.-I think they should be only directed by the President.
Dr. CLARK. In that case, Sir, the President would have to spend the whole of his time in the Sanitary Office.
Colone! HUGUES.-Does the Secretary agree with that?
Dr. CLARK.-He does it. It is part of his duty. We have had three Secretaries since I have been here, and they have always done the same.
Mr. SHARP.-Does not the President spend a certain time every day at the office ?
Dr. CLARK.-Yes; roughly about half an hour a day.
Colonel HUGHES.-He spends more time there than the previous President ?
Dr. CLARK.-Yes.
Dr. CLARK. The recognition of the Medical Officer of Health as the official lead of the Department would not therefore throw any extra work upon his shoulders, while it would actually lighten to no inconsiderable extent the general work of the Department as will be readily seen from this comparative statement which I now put in which shows that much unnecessary circumlocution will be avoided by the adoption. of the system which obtains in every other branch of the service, namely, that of recognizing the chief executive officer as the Head of the Department.
73