CO129-298 - Governor Sir Blake Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [3-4] — Page 71

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but, unfortunately, some of the Chinese as well as 70 European owners persistently neglect to comply with the Law. After the time has expired, they wait for

a notice to be served telling them what they know already viz:- that, to comply with the Law, they must whitewash their houses. It is not always easy

to serve these notices, but when this is done, much

delay has occured. In one District, only about one seventh of the owners complia with the Law although they have been fully notified. The Sanitary Board

asked to have the law amended accordingly. Indeed, in

the case of some Bye-Laws, such as those requiring

the reporting of cases of plague, small pox &c. (see

S.S. (24) of section 13,) to require a notice to be

given to the offender that he had not reported and

calling upon to do so, seems to be an absurdity..

The Medical Officer of Health or ruch other

officer as the Board may depute is allowed by this

Ordinance to institute proceedings because, in practice,

the Medical Officer of Health usually conducts the

prosecutions and, as he is not a Solicitor, legal

practitioners occasionally object to his being heard

by the Magistrate because he is not the complainant

or party prosecuting. The Secretary can seldom be

spared to attend Court.

This Ordinance will facilitate the enforce-

ment of those Bye-Laws which are so necessary in

this Colony, if the inroads of plague are to be

successfully resisted.

(Sd.) W.Meigh Goodman,

Attorney General.