OFFICIALDOM AT VARIANCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81917, 24 January 1907, Page 2

OFFICIALDOM AT VARIANCE

A HEALTH INSPECTOR (JONTI! \- DICTEJ). Tlio Health Department Ims taken In sending out "JiispecloiV—ivilh all sorts and conditions of t(n:iiifi<;itioiin —in all directions. Keccnily mi in spector, Jlr I>. Lanstlowne .Ilickcs. brought liis expert knowledge to bear U|)on some of the Tnranak'i schoo's. and in liis report to tlio .Health Department lnentioned tliat tire lighting arrangements at tlis Urenni school were bad, and had caused an injury In a teacher's sight The report 'also touched on the iloor space and air space, and questioned whether lb,, ac eoiumodation under these heads was sullicienl. Dr. Valintine forwarded a copy of his remarks to the Kdueation Hoard, ami it was considered at Wed nesday's meeting. The Chief Inspector said ll.al ai Urenui the calculations were at fau'l. The Inspector had based liis figures mi Hie roll number, -whilst the Depanmeiit based its returns on nv.irnyi. attendance. Tiie lighting W as '-1,-fi and back." i„ boll, rooms, and Hie mass ol liji-lit came from the left. Wi.h regard to '■back,' lighting beii,..- jniuiluirs to the teacher, the light could |„. excluded by the use of blinds, hi-iif blinds, of course, were „scd. ( 0 ,|jf. fuse the rays. If anv teacher had lost, her sight, then it wa* because she insisted on looking at the naked sunlight then (he eyes must suiter. ||,. characterised the statement as a ''rash statement by a responsible man." Then the complaint was made concerning the conditions at -1 o'ciloek in the afternrjon, after the school -was closed. The school was not visited under normal conditions of working. He would like, the inspeo tor to prove that "one teacher had received permanent injury to the sight (presumably from this cause) anil has had to leave the service." The teacher had left the service because of constitutional weakness. The health inspector might know about other things, but on school matters he knew nothing at all. The "outside sunscreens" recommended would be useless, as they darkened the rooms. 'Jllie Chairman thought ithe' Hoard should ask the health inspector where he got his information concerning the loss of the teacher's sight. Sir Faull said the inspector "had (o write something, or he'd lose his job.'' Mr Morton moved, and Sir Faull s e

< 'led. -That the lc.br from Dr. Valintine. the assistant Health Officer, forwarding the reports of (he Department's inspector on the lighting, lloor space, and ventilation of Urenni, Rail"! u, and Opiinake schools he acknowledged, and that the Health Department be asked to explain on what an Ihorily he makes the statement as to the eyesight <>f a teacher being affected by reason of the alleged bad lighting of lh-.. Urenni school, which

slalement the Hoard believe to be absolutely untrue." The motion was carried.