Village Administration and Local Government in B. G. 355 
During the present year an important step has been taken by the 
Local Government Board in the cause of Sanitation, which should have 
far-reaching results on the future health of the villages and the general 
death rate of the colony. The Board under the section 17 of the Loeal 
Government Ordinance have appointed Drs. Wise and Minett, the Govern- 
ment Bacteriologist and Assistant Government Bacteriologist, as Medical 
Officers of Health to the Board. To further strengthen the staff of the 
Board on the sanitary side a new appointment has been made in the 
shape of a Sanitary Inspector, and the officer to fill it is to be appointed 
from England. This officer will be under the direct control of the 
Medical Officers of Health. The Board is satisfied that with the co-opera- 
tion of two such highly qualitied and enthusiastic Medical Officers of 
Health as it now possesses, further aided by a zealous Sanitary Inspector, 
its programme of sanitary work and reform in the Village and © ountry 
Districts stands an excellent chance of being successfully. earried out. 
To give an idea of the vast improvement which has been effected in 
the V illage Districts, and is fast being attained in the Country Districts, 
I do not think I can do better than illustrate the fact by quoting a few 
figures. 
During the period 1883 to 1892 when 18 Villages paid rates, the 
rates collected averaged only about 75 per annum. 
For the period 1892 to 1900-1901, the same number of villages 
being dealt with, the collection, taken as a whole over the period named, 
never exceeded 80°/. and for four of the years the record was 70 to 75 
In the financial year 1901-02, a marked improvement set in, the 
average collection going up from 75 in the previous year to 81. From 
this date onward every successive year has shown an improvement, and 
even with the number of Village Districts increased from 18 to 22 the 
improvement has continued, last year the collection having reached the 
excellent average of 99.1 
I think the present position is one which must give universal satis- 
faction, showing as it does an average improvement of 21” in twelve 
years. I do not think I will be accused of being over sanguine when I 
state that I feel satistied that when such a vast improvement can take 
place in such an important branch of village administration in such a 
comparatively short period it should inspire those entrusted with the 
conduct of village affairs with the determination to accomplish (and _ it is 
possible to accomplish) the same results in other departments of village 
administration. 
