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Mr. Shelton Hooper.—Divest yourself of your personality for a moment.
A. They go to the officer who carries out the duties of inspecting.
Q.--But is it not sent to you for that purpose?
A.-Yes certainly.
Q. Then when he bas done that, does he report to you?
A. No, he did not report to me.
Q.-Then who does that? You are Building Authority?
A. Yes.
Q.-They are addressed to the Building Authority, and they come to you?
A. They dont necessarily come into my hands.
Q. It is your duty, I take it, to examine these plans, and you are required by law to issue a permit to proceed.
A. I am required by law to refer them to the Medical Officer of Health.
Q. Are you required by law to refer them to the Medical Officer of Health to shew that all the provisions of Part 3 are carried out?
A. I dont think that is specified in the procedure laid down in the Ordinance. I dont think it says that I am to refer them on any special grounds.
Q-Then is the Medical Officer of Health superior to you in granting a permit? Do you authorise him to grant a permit, I will put it that way first.
A.-No.
Q.-Then, perhaps you can explain why you referred to the Medical Officer of Health when the duty is cast by Statute on you.
A. Section 226 of the Ordinance says: "The Building Authority shall before be approves of any plan or drawing submitted under this Ordinance refer the same to the Medical Officer of Health, who shall indicate in what respect, if any, such plan or drawing does not conform with the sanitary requirements of this Ordinance, and of the Bye-laws made thereunder".
Q.-Very well, do you understand by that, that the "sanitary requirements" of this Ordinance indicates anything outside the drains?
A. Yes.
Q.-Then it is not your duty, but it is his, to satisfy himself that it complies with the Ordinance? What is your duty under it, to be guided by what he says only?
A.-I take my duties to be more particularly purely structural matters, that is to say, the thickness of walls, and any matters of that kind, and that the external air provisions, and the window areas and so on, are more matters for the Medical Officer of Health.