A special order may be obtained from the Local Government Board to unite districts in the same county for purposes of combining the work of the Medical Officer. In that case the question of salary is a matter for arrange ment. The Medical Officer may also carry on his private practice under certain conditions in the area of a town or city council; but the officc• of a County Council cannot undertake private practice except with the express permission of his authority.
The salary of a Medical Officer varies according to whole or part time employment from .12150 to ,11000.
The duties of the offices are somewhat exacting as well as onerous. The Local Government Board has laid down definite instructions upon the subject. The Medical Officer is expected to inform himself of the general health conditions in his district, the causes of disease and how far this can be mitigated. Upon the results of his inspection he is expected to advise his council with respect to the issue of bye-laws and regulations. Should an outbreak of disease occur he must visit the spot infected and organise as well as supervise all the necessary steps for its abatement. The Inspector of Nuisances works under his instructions in such connection, and generally has to act as an informant to hint concerning insanitary conditions in the district. The Medical Officer's duties also extend to the inspection of food exposed for sale. If lie deems this unfit for consumption, he can order it to be seized and commence proceedings before the justices. By special powers he may on the justices' order search for unfit food. Again he must inspect fac tories and workshops where offensive trades are conducted and endeavour to minimise the offence to public health. At the end of every year he has to prepare a report dealing in detail with the health conditions of his district, as well as reporting to the Local Government Board upon the subject of epidemic disease and submitting also quarterly returns of sickness and death.
Borough Surveyor. See SURVEYOR : How to become a.
Tramway Manager.--Where the municipality owns the tramways a Tramway Manager is required. His qualifications consist usually in a practical knowledge of electrical engineering. In some cases the condition is imposed that he should be a qualified electrical engineer with workshop training. • It is essential of course that such an officer should be able to take complete control of the plant, apparatus, car sheds, and works of an electrical undertaking, possess necessary ability to organise the men, and have corn menial experience, for he must be prepared to advise his authority on all questions affecting the rates, working hours, and payments to staff: The salary offerFd for such a post varies from ,1)300 or 1100 to £1500 a year.
Electrical Engineer.—Many municipalities now possess electrical under takings and require an Electrical Engineer, whose duty it is to control the whole supply, to organise the staff; and generally to be responsible to the authority for the department. Ile has also to watch carefully the manner in which the wiring is carried out and provide regulations to be enforced by his authority against so much of the amateur work that is utilised in some dis tricts. Technical skill and commercial knowledge are essential for such a post. The salary for the Electrical Engineer ranges on a scale somewhat similar to that of the Surveyor.
Water Engineers.—Some municipalities link the duties of a Water Manager with those of the Surveyor. But this is usually in the smaller boroughs. In larger municipalities the undertaking is too large for such divided control. The officer appointed as Water Engineer should be a mem ber of the Civil Engineers and possess knowledge of water analysis, pumping and general machinery, the laying of mains and other incidentals relating to water supply. He has to attend the meetings of the Council and to advise the members upon all technical matters affecting his department. Salary depends upon the size of the waterworks and ranges from 1100 to £1200.
Sewage Works Manager.---This is an appointment which in the early days of sewage works was frequently given by small authorities to a road foreman or foreman bricklayer. But to-day science demands a man who has some experience of chemistry and is able to deal with the problems of bacteria beds and effluents. He ought to possess some engineering know ledge, in view of the pumping machinery under his control, and his successful treatment of the sewage must depend upon his chemical skill. However excellent the system adopted by his Council, this will largely depend upon the Sewage Works Manager's control. The salary approximates between £150 and 1'350 per year.