Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 294

Dr.Atkinson's

evidence. Pages 2047/49,

Page 2002. Question 16627.

1 of 1903.

New Scheme.

185 (34)

306. The Principal Civil Medical Officer who was we understand largely instrumental in formulating the Ordinance 23 of 1903 has stated in evidence, that finding the new Ordinance No. 1 of 1903 unworkable, he came to the conclusion the only means by which the Sanitary work of the Colony could be carried out satisfactorily was either by the formation of Munic: pal Council, or by reducing the Department to a purely Government Department taking away from the Sanitary Board such control as had been vested in it for close upon 20 years, and which was confirmed so late as 1903 by Ordinance No 1 of that year, transferring this power entirely to the Principal Civil Medical Officer, who as President of the Board should have supreme control over the Department, and be its Administrative Head.

307. The Commissioners wholly dissent from the views expressed by the Principal Civil Medical Officer in this matter.

In the first place, we do not consider that sufficient time or opportunity had been given to fairly test the working of the new Ordinance, before this drastic change was instituted.

Secondly, we cannot agree that the alternative lay between a Municipality and a purely Government Department.

300... We consider that the conferring upon the Principal Civil Medical Officre of almost despouwers has certainly been an unhappy experiment, the con- tinuance of which we cant recommend.

309. Without going into the question as to whether a Municipality is or is not feasible, and if so, desirable, in this Colony, we at once reject the views of the Principal Civil Medical Officer as given in his evidence, and we now lay before Your Excellency a scheme by which we believe a perfectly satisfactory result can be obtained.

310. In our opinion, the Sanitary and Building Regulations can be carried out with perfect satisfaction both to the Government and the Public, were the matter once placed on a proper and systematic footing, provided duly qualified officials be appointed to carry out the various duties entailed under the Ordinances, much in the same manner that similar work is entrusted to the Municipal Authorities of large cities in England, or in other Colonies.

311. We would suggest that the Administration of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinances be entirely separate from the Public Works Department.

The latter should still keep control of such work as water supply, public roads, sewers, &c., but all matters relating to Sanitary affairs, nuisances and actual con- struction or alteration of buildings should be entirely transferred to the Sanitary and Building Department, such Department to be divided into four sections.

312. (1.) There should be a Secretarial Department, the Secretary being co-equal with the heads of the other sub-departments, but having the right to control the entire correspondence, and be kept fully advised us to all that is taking place, in exactly the same way that a Secretary to a Home Municipality, or of a large Company, is the centre of all information.

(2.) The Medical, having at the head, the Medical Officer of Health,

with Assistant Medical Officers of Health.

(3.) The Engineering Section, with an Executive Engineer, Assistant

Engineers, and Overseers, as may be found necessary.

(4.) The Veterinary Department, under the Colonial Veterinary Sur-

geon, with supervision of markets and food supplies generally.

313. The whole Department to be controlled by a Board formed of four official and six unofficial members, as at present, who shall have the complete ordering of the Department, recommend to the Governor all promotions or changes and alterations in the staff, and be accountable to His Excellency for the expenditure of the funds voted by the Legislative Council.