The secretary of the State Board of Health shall appoint the state registrar of vital records in accordance with classification standards of education and experience. It shall be his duty to carry into effect the rules, regulations and orders of the State Board of Health that are provided for the office of vital records registration. The said board shall provide for such clerical and other assistance as may be necessary, and may fix the compensation of persons thus employed within the amount appropriated for the health work by the legislature. The said board shall provide suitable apartments, properly equipped with fireproof vaults and filing cases, for the permanent and safe preservation of all official records made and returned to the office of vital records registration.