.185 (180)
2046 2047,8
266.-Dr. J. M. ATKINSON, recalled:-
The Chairman. And the Secretary ought to keep proper books?
A. Yes.
Mr. Humphreys.-Do you consider the books he keeps are proper books?
A.-Do you press the question?
Q.-Yes.
A.-I am afraid they are not kept as well as they ought to be. I have often had to find fault with them.
The Chairman.-Could you define in what way the books are defective?
A.-I could give you an example. Only yesterday, I wanted to know what had been done with 1,000 gallons of carbolic acid ordered for the use of the Department, from the Crown Agents in 1901. The Secretary could not tell me. I said "You keep the store books, you keep the records". He said "One of the store books is missing". I said "Some officer must be responsible for that. Surely they are in your charge."
I could not ascertain how much of the original 1,000 gallons was now in the store. The Secretary thought it had not all been used, and it was extraordinary we had not used 1,000 gallons, in five years, when we had used about 12,000 gallons in three months of another dis- infectant.
306. Mr. Shelton Hooper. -Prior to the Ameuding Ordinance 23 of 1903, did a Sanitary Department, exist?
A.-Not a Sanitary Department no.
Q-Well now, I would like to read you an extract from Hansard, from a speech of the Attorney General given in moving the second reading of the Bill, "in these amend- ments, it is proposed to create a Sanitary Department. A Sanitary Department does exist, but it is now proposed to recognise it by Statute and give the Principal Civil Medical Officer of the Colony the direct adininistration of that Department by holding him directly responsible". That is what I meant by asking you whether a Sanitary Department exist- ed, prior to the Amending Ordinance. Now, what do you understand by that, what did exist?
A. It was a Government Department to a certain extent, and in addition the Sanitary Board. It always appeared to me to be anomalous, that union of two dissimilar bodies. The Government appointed the officers, and the Sanitary Board simply made the rules for the guidance of the officers, and also for the business of the Board, but they had no money at their disposal.
Q.-Well now, did you recognise before that, that the Government could not hold you directly responsible,-before the Department was created by law?
A. I thought it was so.
Q.-That they could not make you directly responsible ?
A. No, because the Board made the rules for the officers. How can I be responsible for what the Board did. The Board made the rules for the guidance of the officers. I could not be responsible for the officers, if the Board made the rules. Now practically I
make the rules.