HC Deb 09 March 1910 vol 14 cc1454-5
Mr. O'GRADY

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, whether he could supply information regarding an outbreak of infectious disease in the Germiston municipality of the Colony of the Transvaal from June to August, 1909; whether the endemic originated in the native compound and then spread to the white population; whether the report of the medical officer of health was to that effect; whether he was aware that over 1,000 cases of the same disease occurred in the adjoining municipality of Johannesburg; and whether the medical officer of health there was held responsible, and what action, if any, was taken against him?

The HON. MEMBER

also asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention had been called to the complaints made by doctors holding the position of medical officer of health under the Germiston town council in that they were dismissed summarily by the council, and that the effect of such dismissal had been damage to professional reputation; whether the dismissal of one of these Germiston medical officers of health in September, 1909, arose out of a report presented to the council that an infectious disease had broken out among the natives in the compounds; and, if so, what steps would be taken to protect medical officers of health having to perform duties in the compounds from the risk of summary dismissal and loss of reputation as the result of presenting a report which, though a statement of fact, may conflict with the economic interests of the mine-owners?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Master of Elibank)

I have no information on the subject of either of the questions addressed to me by my hon. Friend. Local matters of this kind are not reported to the Secretary of State, as they are matters for the Transvaal Government to decide upon their own responsibility.

Mr. O'GRADY

Are these cases not reported to the Secretary of State?

MASTER of ELIBANK

The Transvaal having a responsible Government, the Secretary of State is not made aware of the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers.

Mr. O'GRADY

Is not the medical officer of health appointed directly under the supervision of the Secretary of State?

MASTER of ELIBANK

No; I think he is appointed by the Transvaal Government.