Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 771

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Recommendations.

NEW SCHEME,--Continued.

314. The Official Members to be the Prin- cipal 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 Excel- lency deciding to place this Officer on the board, it should be distinctly understood that he takes his seat as an unofficial member, entirely uncon- nected 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 Pre- sident 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 neces- sary, 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 inade to the Sanitary and Building Board. The Beard to have entire control, and to make hgements for the conduct of business be- tween its Meetings.

Proposals.

NEW SCHEME,--Continued.

whether of a permanent type by the erection of verandahs and balconies or of a temporary nature by erection of hoardings and scaffoldings, will still be in the hands of the other Building Authority (the Director of Public Works), and cross refer- ences will still be necessary and the source of delays which now exists will only be perpetuated in another form.

(b.) How is the line to be drawn between the buildings to be under the control of the Build- ing Authority of the Sanitary Board and those to be under the control of the Director of Public Works in his capacity as Building Authority?

The only system that appears likely to be successful would be to allow certain areas to the former and the remaining areas in the Colony to the latter.

That is the system adopted where a Muni- cipality exists in other Crown Colonies, but such municipalities also exercise control over the roads, sewers and, in some cases, over the water works as well, within their boundaries.

In this young and growing Colony it is con- sidered that such division of spheres of control would not be satisfactory.

Large schemes of development are frequently carried out in the very heart of the old Colony involving intricate and often confidential negotia- tions with the parties interested.

It appears questionable whether such matters could be dealt with as successfully, and with equal acceptance to those parties, if the proposals of the Commissioners were adopted.

(c.) Under existing conditions, if any differ- ence of opinion arises with the Executive Engineer who performs all the ordinary duties imposed on the Building Authority, the matter is at once referred to the high authority of the Director of Public Works.

It is obvious that an Executive Engineer on £630 a year will not be an Officer of sufficient standing to deal successfully with the practising Engineers and Architects in the Colony on the very many knotty points that will constantly arise between them in which the interests of property owners (the employers of the said Engineers and Architects) and what are after all the interests of the public at large will clash.

Nor would such an Executive Engineer carry sufficient weight to impose his will on his masters-the Members of the Sanitary Board -the only one of whom who has any technical engineering knowledge is the Director of Public Works.