Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 295

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314. The Official Members to be the Principal Civil Medical Officer, the Director of Public Works, the Captain Superintendent of Police, and the Registrar General.

315. The Governor to have the appointment of two unofficial Members from amongst the Chinese community and two from among the British community.

Of the latter, one might be the Principal Medical Officer, but in the event of His Excellency deciding to place this Officer on the board, it should be distinctly understood that he takes his seat as an unofficial member, entirely unconnected with and uncontrolled by the Civil Government of the Colony.

Two unofficial Members to be selected from the British community, to be elected as at present by the rate payers.

316. The working of Ordinance No. 1 of 1903 was no doubt to a great extent handicapped by the fact that while the Medical Officer of Health was actually the Medical Adviser to the Board, his professional, or rather technical advice could be overridden by the opinion of the President of the Board, who as Principal Civil Medical Officer was his superior officer in the Medical Department of the Civil Service.

317. This state of affairs must inevitably lead at times to a certain amount of friction, and we would strongly urge that the Principal Civil Medical Officer under no circumstances be President of the Board. The post of President might we consider with advantage be left to the decision of the Board, the President to be elected annually.

318. After careful consideration of this question, and (at all events, as far as some of the Members are concerned) some years personal experience on the Sanitary Board, we are forced to the conclusion that in view of the nature of the work demanded of the Sanitary Department, the post of President of the Board should not under any conditions be held by a medical man,

319. The Secretary, Medical Officer of Health, Executive Engineer, and, when necessary, the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon should attend the Meetings of the Board, but have no vote.

320. All decisions or instructions from the Board to be conveyed in writing to the respective heads of the sectional departinents, through the Secretary, through whom all communications from officials or servants of the Board are to be made to the Sanitary and Building Board. The Board to have entire control, and to make arrangements for the conduct of business between its Meetings.

321. The existing position of the Secretary as now defined by the Govern- ment Officials who have given evidence before the Commission on this point, is that the Secretary acts in this capacity to the Board only, while he is merely a Chief Clerk and Accountant to the Department.

322. The President (as Head of the Departinent) carries on such Depart- mental correspondence as he considers fit, without necessarily informing the Secretary of what is being done, while the subordinate officers of the Department do not appear to consider that the Secretary is in any way their superior officer.

323. An instance has been given where an Inspector refused to go to the Secretary's office, when a message was sent to the effect that the Secretary wished to see him, unless a written order was received from the Medical Officer of Health. From this, it is evident that the Secretary does not at present hold the position or have the proper authority which we consider should be vested in such an appoint-

ment.

324. There is throughout the working of the Department, both as carried out in practice and as provided for in the Amended Ordinance, such an entire absence of system, to say nothing of discipline, that it is difficult to lay down clearly the duties of the individual officers of the Department, and in our opinion the only means possible by which the Department can be placed on a satisfactory footing, both as regards the work of the Government and the interests of the