Report of the Director-General of Public Health, New South Wales.
- New South Wales. Department of Public Health
- Date:
- [1937]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report of the Director-General of Public Health, New South Wales. Source: Wellcome Collection.
45/154 page 33
![S3 ANNUAL REPORT OR THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SANITARY BRANCH DURING THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1937. Staff.—Chief Inspector, Mr. G. A. Garrow, M.R. San. I., T.P.; Senior Inspector, Mr. S. L. Parsons; 10 Certificated Inspectors, and 1 Certificated Inspector and Licensed Surveyor.1 General.—Routine investigations and inspections made by officers of this Branch during 1937 disclosed that while the majority of municipal and shire councils are alive to their obligations and duties in respect of public health administration, a certain number arc negligent of their responsibilities, and in t hese districts careful and frequent supervision is necessary. As a result of inspections made in 1937,’ several councils have been requested to appoint a certificated health inspector. ] hiring the inspections it was tound that two councils were employing unqualified inspectors, thereby contravening the provisions of the Public Health (Amendment) Act of 1921. Country and Metropolitan Districts.—Routine and General Inspections, etc. Towns. Eleven primary inspections and thirty-three reinspections were made of towns, reports thereon submitted and recommendations for requisite action were forwarded to the respective local authorities. Following upon these inspections, a number of councils have appointed, or arc taking steps to appoint, a certificated health inspector. In several other cases, sanitary services have been or are being installed. An influx of population to Captain’s Flat, following an increase in mining activities there, made it necessary to inspect the township. As a result of the conditions found the local authority was requested to have a nightsoil pan removal service installed, and to arrange for appointment of a certificated health inspector. Insanitary Buildings.—Inspections were made of 299 buildings. In sixty-two instances the condition of the buildings was such as to warrant the issue of closing order certificates, and the councils concerned were requested to take action and close the buildings. In other cases the councils were informed of the improvements considered necessary to place the buildings in a habitable condition, and requested to notify this office of the result of action taken. Shop Premises.—Inspections were made of 151 shop premises (butchers, grocers, etc.), and where improvements or alterations were found necessary, the council concerned was requested to take action. In several cases legal proceedings were instituted against the trader. Barbers Shops.-—Seventy-three barbers’ shops were inspected. In every case in which the condition of the premises, arrangements for sterilizing the instruments, arresting bleeding, etc., were found unsatisfactory, the council concerned was informed, and requested to cause specified improvements to be carried out. In one or two cases it was found necessary to prosecute the trader. Dentists’ Rooms.—Several dentists’ rooms were inspected and reports concerning them were forwarded to the Dental Board. District and Private IIospitals—Public and Private Schools.—Inspections were made of sixty-four separate premises, and reports and necessary recommendations submitted. Public Halls and Theatres.—Thirty-five inspections were made and reports and recommendations submitted. Several complaints were investigated, and five air tests were made. Plans of proposed alterations to premises were also examined and reported on. Hotel Premises.—-Ninety - four hotel premises were inspected, and reports and recommendation, submitted to the Licensing Authorities. During the year officers of this Branch were called upon to give expert advice, both in and out of court, on many matters (including sewage treatment plants) relating to hotel premises. The raising of hotel premises to a reasonably good standard is a subject to which attention is also given by this Branch. Where it appears necessary that a sewage treatment plant should be installed, the matter is referred to the Licensing Authorities. Swimming Pools.—-Sixteen swimming pools and treatment plants, and several sites for proposed pools were inspected, and reports thereon submitted. Forty-nine samples of pool water were procured and submitted for chemical and bacteriological examination. It is the practice of this Branch to instruct perions in charge of swimming pools in matters relating generally to the maintenance of the pool, the plant, and the premises, and in the method of procuring and despatching samples of water to this department for chemical and bacteriological examination. Cattle Slaughtering and Diseased Animals and Meat Act, 1902.—Inspections were made of 165 slaughtering premises and two sites for proposed abattoirs; and reports and recommendations were forwarded to the local authorities concerned for necessary action. In some cases it was found necessary to institute legal proceedings against traders. Investigations were made regarding increase of fees, and alteration of existing increased fees, under Section 15 of the Act. In one case of fees were increased, and in another readjusted. In two other cases the matter is under consideration by the councils concerned. Plans of a proposed abattoir were examined and a report submitted. There is every likelihood that the abattoir will be erected. Other councils are giving consideration to the establishment of abattoirs, or in lieu thereof, ol taking advantage of Section 15 of the Cattle Slaughtering Act, with a view to increasing the slaughtering tees and appointing a qualified inspector to supervise the meat supply. *89657—0](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b31485285_0045.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
