THE GROWING ARRAY OF INSPECTORS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1111, 26 April 1911, Page 8

THE GROWING ARRAY OF INSPECTORS.

~ MORE SUGGESTED. TWO SPECIAL HEALTH OFFICERS. Reporting on the subject of tho appointment of health officers to tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard yesterday, the medical superintendent (Dr. Hardwick Smith) stated, inter alia :— Dr. Hardwick Smith's Plan. At present the Department of Public Health, in dealing with infectious diseases in tho Wellington Hospital district, undertakes tho work of investigation and disinfection by its inspectors. As the Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard has to deal with tho disease of the district, it would seem wise that they should also have power to control the prevention of disease. In order to afford this opportunity, a clause was placed in the new Hospital Act, stating that tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards shall (in their own districts) take over the work of investigation and prevention of infectious disease, and appoint qualified inspectors for tho purpose. This being the case, I have, after consulting the Department, made the following suggestions for your consideration :— 1. That two men be appointed as inspectors for the wholo of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid district to deal with matters pertaining to infectious disease. 2. That the board allow any local area except tho City, Petone", and Lower Hutt Borough Councils to appoint cither of tho above to be inspectors of nuisances under the local governing Act; that payment for such services be agreed ' upon by -the board, and tho local area with tho advice of tho Department of Public Health: that the inspectors take over the duties at present being carried out by any inspector under the Department of Public Health. 3. That the inspectors appointed be cither certificated or men of experience. 4. That tho appointment he preceded by three months! probation. 5. That the salary paid to each inspector , conimenco at £185, with £50 travelling allowance. 6. That . tho . Department of Public Health bo asked to take over the control of these officers, as tliey have all tho facilities for that purpose at their disposal. 7. That monthly reports of the investigations of each case bo sent to the board by the inspectors, and a copy of the report to be sent to tho District Health Officer. Mr. It. C. Kirk asked Dr. Valintiiie (Inspector-General of Hospitals), who was present, to give the board the benefit ot his experience in explaining the proposals. Strong Points of the Scheme. In commenting on the proposals, Dr. Vahntiue said that the principle that a body responsible for the treatment of sickness should be responsible as well for its prevention must appeal to'tlio board as; absolutely sound. In dealing with theso proposals, the board would bo wisp to set up a small Public Health Committee to consider details. i\o doubt some local authorities would agree that tho officers should be also solitary inspectors under the Public Health Act. This would be tho most economical way of administering tho Act, as the salaries of these officers would be subsidised by the Government just as-was ordinary Hospital expenditure. Also; the officers-should be appointed inspectors under the - Food and Drugs Act. In their peregrinations about the district, they could take samples of food and drink and forward them to tho Government Analyst. At present these samples were not taken as frequently as was desirable. Another way in which the officers could do valuable work would be in looking up people who wero in receipt of charitable aid, so as to discover tho conditions under which they were living, and report to tho board upon their circumstances. In this way a great deal would be saved in charitable relief. In country districts, as things stood at present, supervision was extremely difficult. Dr. Valintiiie added that ho recognised tho valuable nature of. tho work carried out-by Miss Kirk, biit sho had a very large district to cover, and it would be a great thing if she could be assisted by these inspectors. Tho Auckland, Christchurch, and Otagp Hospital Boards had already appointed theso health officers. Also, a recent report of a Royal Commission on English Poor-Laws had very strongly urged that boards should not only undertake. the treatment of sickness, but its prevention. One of the Weak Points. Mr. Mooro congratulated tho medical superintendent upon his report as a whole, but contended that it had ono weakness. Because tho speaker wished to see a proper and efficient administration, ho did not think theso inspectors should bo under the control of tho Health Department. There wero twenty men on the hoard, and it should be a proper authority to control tho work of theso inspectors. Put them under tho Department, and they would be under the control of one particular Minister, . or ono particular Minister's nominees. In the interests of public health, tho board should keep these officers under'its own control. Tho chairman complimented Dr. Hardwick-Smith upon the excellence of his report, and endorsed tho suggestion that a small committee, should be setup to consider its details. Committee Set Up. The chairman (the Rev. W. A. Evans), and Messrs. F. T. Moore, G. T. London, J. G. M'Ewen, and tho Rev. H. Van Staveren were appointed a Public Health Committee, with instructions 'to consider the medical superintendent's report, and report to the board at its next meeting.