HEALTH AND WELFARE IN PLANTATIONS, 423 
Boards. Government should also possess some financial control. For ex- 
ample, all loans should require 'the previous sanction of Government, and 
its approval should also be obtained for any scheme for which a loan is 
required. Some more general control will probably he advisable to ensure 
that long term commitments are not undertaken without expert financial 
scrutiny. The accounts of the Board should also be subject to official 
audit. 
Official Inspectorate. 
While the Boards may be expected to effect progressive advance in 
all health matters, the local Government in its Public Health Department 
must have the right of inspecting plantations at all times. This inspee- 
tion is required to ensure the enforcement of those matters which are 
definitely the function of Government, e.g., the collection of vital statistics 
and the exclusion from work of under-age children. The inspectors 
would be responsible for keeping Government informed regarding the 
standards of administration and should also assist the Board’s officers 
in securing observance of its regulations and orders. We consider that 
an official plantation inspectorate should not work exclusively on planta- 
tions, but should rather be appointed to compact geographical areas. 
In other words, they should be merged in the ordinary rural public health 
staff. Their work on plantations is likely to be of greater value, if they 
are also in charge of public health in adjoining areas, whose conditions 
may materially affect the health of the plantations. We accord- 
ingly recommend that the district health officers, who will be ex-officio 
members of the Boards, should act as Government inspectors of planta- 
tions, making such suggestions to the Director of Public Health as they 
consider advisable and dealing with breaches of the public health laws and 
regulations on estates. As in the Madras Presidency, it may be found 
necessary to appoint additional officers of the grade of district health 
officers to enable effective inspection to be carried out, but these are 
matters which should be left to the decision of local Governments them- 
selves.