Science and Physical Development 



find it cheaper to pay fines and to go on sinning. 

 The ordinary householder, too, might be brought 

 under the law, as in Germany. 



But all these public health questions depend 

 upon the integrity, knowledge, and sense of duty, 

 of local administrators. Except in London and 

 Scotland the Medical Officer of Health holds office 

 at the goodwill of the Local Authority. This is 

 clearly wrong. He should be given security of 

 tenure, unless convicted of misconduct. Members 

 of Local Authorities are too often personally in- 

 terested in abuses. These could be better checked 

 if an accurate register of the owners of slum pro- 

 perty were kept, and if more power were given to, 

 and exercised by, the County Councils and Local 

 Government Board to step in directly where the 

 local body neglected its duty. Various serious 

 complaints were made by competent witnesses 

 against the Local Authorities in Dundee, Edinburgh, 

 Sheffield, the Staffordshire Potteries District, and 

 elsewhere. The real need is driving-power behind 

 these authorities. It is an enlightened and patriotic 

 public opinion for which the countryside groans. 

 Are the men of splendid ability among us content 

 to pile up personal fortunes, or to surrender them- 

 selves to the luxury of ease, or the scarcely less 

 enervating luxury of intellectual enjoyment? When 

 will our best men realise that the best work, and 

 that nearest to hand, is lying undone or badly 

 done ? How long must local administration lan- 

 guish, and the people suffer, for want of the 

 wisdom, skill., and saving common-sense which 



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