185 (65)
the age of twenty-one resident in the Colony, those in the service of the Imperial and Colonial Governments excepted. The Committee who organised the ballot are as follows:-Honourable C. P. CHATER, Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD, Messrs. N. J. EDE, T. JACKSON, A. MCCONACHIE, and J. J. FRANCIS. Honourable Captain W. C. H. HASTINGS and Mr. A. Coxon acted as scrutineers of the ballot. Most of these gentlemen were present during the progress of the voting. The voting took place during the hours of 4.30 and 7.30 p.m. Arrangements were made so that the employees of the Dock Company at the various docks should attend the polling place in relays, and we understand a similar arrangement was carried out with regard to those employed at the Taikoo Sugar Works and Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Company's Sugar Refineries. About an hour after the bal- lot was opened to-day nearly 300) residents in all had recorded their voces.”
18th May,
"The public ballot held for ascertaining whether the public were in favour or China Mail. against the constitution of the Sanitaay Board with an official majority was con- 1896. cluded on Saturday and resulted in an overwhelming majority for an unofficial majority, the small number of 31 voted for an official majority, while 331 voted in favour of an unofficial majority. The number of voters on the list was 364, but two of that number had evidently not voted, as only 362 tickets were found in the boxes."
Hansard
36. In reply to a question in the Legislative Council on 8th July, 1896, the 18956. Colonial Secretary said "That the construction of the Sanitary Board had been Page 35. referred to the Secretary of State and that he has also been informed of the result of the Ballot."
37. By a Draft Bill entitled "The Sanitary Board Ordinance of 1896" it was proposed to reduce the official members of the Board from 4 to 3 and the unoffi- cials to not more than 2.
38. Apparently the Bill was withdrawn and notwithstanding that the Draft had been approved by the Secretary of State after receiving the plebiscite he did not approve of its becoming law although his decision on that point was never made public.
39. The next election for members of the Board took place on 19th Decem- ber, 1899, and the Government nominated 4 members and the Medical Officer of Health in addition to the 2 members elected by the Ratepayers.
40. In 1901 there was friction between the Medical Officer of Health and the c. s.o. Secretary of the Sanitary Board, and Dr. CLARK claimed to be to be Head of the 3632/1901. Department and able to direct the Secretary. The President (Dr. ATKINSON) in a minute to the Government stated he agreed to Medical Officer of Health directing the Secretary but he added he (ATKINSON) was Head of the Department. P Government in reply stated the Board was the Head.
4. In 1901 an Ordinance was passed consolidating the law's relp Public Health, and enacted that the constitution of the Board should be
6 unofficial and 4 official members and the Medical Officer of Health.
1901
a son's Rep
42. In August, 1901, Dr. ATKINSO) as appointed President of the Board and Commis- immediately recommended to the Governor that the Sanitary Boon be made Government Department.
43. The constitution of the Samard thereby er
gard thereby remained unchanged until the passing of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance 1 of 1903.
To fully understand the reasons for this hew Ordinage it is necessary to trace its History.
44. In 1901 a ser
the nom de plume of Colony and the General
appeared in the public press written under
criticising the Sanitary Condition of the stration then in force.
Question 16235. Page 1989 of the Evidence.