Report upon the inspection of Missions is to be made in accordance with the attached pro forma. For the information of Medical Officers the following amplifying instructions are being issued to indicate the scope of inquiry in respect of the various headings and sub-headings.
A. SITE:
- Suitability. Report should indicate whether the site is considered suitable for the establishment of a Mission having regard to the necessity of’ the Mission engaging in agricultural, pastoral and kindred industrial pursuits for the purpose of rendering the undertaking self-supporting and at the same time providing an avenue of employment for the Mission’s aboriginals, which will tend to train them in pursuits facilitating their absorption into a civilized community. Consideration should also be given to the relation at-the Mission site to the density of aboriginal population in the district served, it being desirable that a subsidized institution of this nature should have the maximum opportunity of contact with a large number of aboriginals.
- Data for the preparation of a ground plan of the Mission should be collected so that a plan drawn to scale may be prepared for future reference. Details to be collected are the dimensions and exact- position of buildings, yards, privies etc. and their relation to water supply and so forth.
- The locality should be inspected carefully and report made upon nature of the soil, drainage, depth of’ subsoil water and proximity of buildings to swamps or other accumulations of water which may provide breeding grounds for mosquito to vectors of disease.
B. STAFF:
Requirements in respect of staff are self explanatory but should be understood that official staff is deemed to include only those persons appointed by the controlling body of the Mission organization in the South. For this reason persons employed on the Mission but appointed by the Missionaries themselves are listed separately as employees other than Missionaries.
C. COMMUNICATION:
Indicate in detail what methods of communication the Mission has with the outside world giving particular attention to speed, reliability and where the is not telegraphic communication, the interval of time which will elapse before the message can arrive at the nearest telegraph office.
D. SANITATION
- Disposal of garbage. Inspect the Mission carefully and not any evidence of neglect and disposal of waste food and other organic matter. The Mission should provide water-tight containers of an approved pattern with lids into which all waste organic matter should be placed. . These containers should be emptied regularly not less frequently than twice a week. The contents should be removed under conditions which do not permit of spilling or the emanation of noxious odours, and burned or effectively buried at a site set apart for the purpose. The tipping of such garbage into a big hole which is only filled at long intervals can not be allowed. If it is to be buried each load must be completely buried at the time of its removal from the Station. Garbage tips should be carefully inspected for evidence of fly breeding.
- Disposal of nightsoil. Cess pits should be disallowed as they do not include approved Deep Trench Latrines. If the conservancy method is used the two pans system should be required. The E.C.s themselves should provide adequate shelter and privacy. The pansteads should be fly proof and provided with a concrete floor which will permit of effective cleansing. The pans should be of an approved type and of impervious material. They should be removed not less frequently than twice a week, covered with an effective sealing lid and taken to the disposal ground under conditions which no permit of spilling or the emanation of noxious odours. A special disposal ground should be provided in the vicinity of the Mission where the night-soil should be buried in trenches not more than 18 inches deep and not less than six inches wide. Immediately after the night-soil is thrown into the trench the soil removed in making the trench should be thrown back and rammed down. The disposal ground should be fenced to prevent access of stock and should be in an area clear of trees, ready of access in all weathers and with soil of sandy loam. Water should be available on the disposal ground for thorough washing of all pans, which should be thoroughly cleansed and re-tarred before re-use. The disposal ground should not be situated within half a mile of any source of domestic water supply or of any area where food is prepared for human consumption. It should not be so situated that the prevailing winds blow from it in the direction of the Station and away from any source of domestic water supply.
- Source of water supply. This may be by conservation, shallow well, seep well, spring or stream. Inspect the source carefully and ensure there is no risk of pollution by human excreta, drainage from the Station, intrusion of animals or bathers. Reservoirs of the nature of dams, earth tanks or billabongs should be securely fenced and no source of pollution should be provided with a coping adequate to prevent surface water flowing into the well, should be concreted to a depth of at least 12 feet and should be covered with an effective lid to prevent pollution from above. Water should not be drawn out of a shallow well by windlass, necessitating aboriginals standing over the mouth of the well. On the contrary the well itself should be effectively fenced off and the water raised either mechanically or by hand-pump situated outside the fence. Every source of spring water should be securely fenced and the water drained into a distributing trough flowing outside the fence. Where water is pumped from the river Careful enquiry should be made as to the relative situation of drainage outfall, if any, bathing pool and intake pipe. Where the river is unidirectional flow there is no objection to the bathing pool and drainage outfall being situated in that order downstream from the intake pipe but where, as at Roper River, the river is tidal, particular care should be taken to prevent pollution of the river by drainage and to use the river for bathing purposes always down current from the intake pipe. In such cases sufficient water storage tanks should be provided on the Station to permit of water pumped from the river being stored at least one week before use.
Where water is stored in tanks inspection should be made to ascertain whether they provide breeding places for mosquitoes. Preferably water should be reticulated from an overhead tank, where the method of distribution is by hand carriage of open buckets, the risk of pollution is considerably increased. Where these buckets are retained in or in the vicinity of the aboriginals’ huts, they should be secured from contamination by livestock, dogs and so forth
- Milking is generally performed by old lubras in a pen constructed within the goat yard. The operation therefore, is completed usually in a cloud of dust and as the floor of the pen is usually under six inches to a foot of goat manure, the risk of pollution is appreciable.
- Particular attention should be given to the slaughter yard and meat house. An elaborate slaughter yard is not necessary but there should be there provided at least an impervious dressing floor of good surface properly drained to a sump. Paunch contents and offal should be removed from the slaughter yard at the time of killing and be incinerated or buried. Dogs should not have access to either the slaughter yard or the meat house. The dressed carcasses should be removed to the meat house in a vehicle which permits of thorough cleaning. The meat house should be so constructed as to permit of thorough cleaning of all surfaces liable to fouling. The floor should be of cement concrete brought to a smooth surface and graded to a drain and sump. Salting bench should be of impervious material without crevices or corners. The whole building should be flyproof with screens of fine mesh gauze.
E. HOUSING
All habitable rooms should provide not less than 500 cubic feet of space per occupant. For purposes of calculating cubic capacity wall height should not exceed 12 feet. Floor should be impervious, at least four inches above ground level and graded to permit flushing. No habitable room should be less than 8 feet from floor to cornice. There should be in every habitable room as least one square foot of effective ventilation area to every 7 sq. ft. of floor space and 1 sq. ft. of effective lighting area to every 5 sq. ft. of floor space. n computing effective lighting area and ventilating area the point should not be overlooked that it might be the practice to lock up aboriginals at night. In such circumstances the area of doorways and possibly of shutters is not available as effective ventilation.
Describe each building or type of building in detail.
F. CLOTHING AND BEDDING
Ascertain the nature of garments issued for purposes of clothing and report whether these are second hand from southern states or issued new.
G. DIET.
Ascertain whether live stick, e.g. dogs, goats, pigs, cattle, etc, have access to the kitchen or other place where food is prepared, issued or consumed.
Describe the type of kitchen, method of cooking and distribution – whether natives eat in camp or in dining room. Describe what vessels are used and how these are cleansed.
H. SCHOOL
The reporting upon the school give particular consideration to lighting and ventilation. The lighting should be ample and should fall over the left shoulder. It is the common practice on Missions in order to ensure the coolness of the building to roof the school with thatch having very low eaves. Ensure that lighting is adequate e both in respect of the scholar’s desk and the blackboards and other objects of demonstration on the walls. Report on the extent to which the education policy of the Mission has a detribalising effect on aboriginal children and indicate whether this process of detribalisation is actually part of the Mission policy or merely a collateral development in education.
The pro forma is submitted as a guide for the report to ensure uniformity and comprehensiveness, It is to be supplemented by any general remarks or comments which in the opinion of the reporting officer should be brought to the attention of the Minister.
INSPECTION OF MISSIONS – TEMPLATE OF MISSION CONDITIONS
A: SITE:
- Suitability – agriculture, pastoral pursuits, marine produce, timber milling, reafforestation, mineral production etc. and in relation to distribution of aboriginal population. (Append full report.)
- Append a layout plan of the Mission indicating the distance between buildings, sources of water supply, animal houses, yards, privies, etc.
- Report on any environmental factor contributing or likely to contribute to any endemic or epidemic disease giving particular attention to sites of mosquito breeding pools
B: STAFF