Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Home Secretary whether he has received a petition against the appointment of Dr. Rigby, of Adlington, as factory surgeon for the Horwich district; whether he is aware that the gentleman appointed lives a considerable distance from the district in which his duties are, that there are six medical men resident in Horwich who are all fully competent and qualified to per- 154W form the duties, and that inconvenience has been caused by the appointment; and whether he will reconsider it with the view of appointing a resident medical man to the position?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI have received two letters from the Urban District Council of Horwich on the subject. The facts are these: Horwich and Adlington are contiguous districts, and prior to the appointment referred to had each a certifying surgeon. As, however, there are few factories in the two districts—30 in Horwich and 17 in Adlington—and the area is small, it was decided in accordance with the usual policy of the Department, on the recent retirement of the Horwich surgeon, to amalgamate the districts, and the appointment for the combined district was given to Dr. Rigby, who was already surgeon of Adlington. Dr. Rigby lives only a short distance from Horwich—about two miles—and visits Horwich (where he has a room) at least twice a week, and oftener, if necessary. I have not been able to hear of any inconvenience caused to employers by the arrangement, but the district council states that complaints have been made of inconvenience caused to children in cases where they have to attend the surgeon's room, and I have asked the council for further particulars.