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166
For purposes of future record, it may be stated that the
Borough Council of Lambeth decided on July 9th, 1903, in
favour of the establishment of a Municipal Milk Dep&t for the
Borough (and elsewhere), provided the Local Government Board
would allow the necessary expenses out of the rates. This the
Board, uufortunately, refused to do, stating that there was " no
legal authority for such an expenditure being charged upon the
General Rates." The Board was again written to, asking if the
Auditors' disallowance (when made in the case of Lambeth)
would afterwards be remitted by the Board " in the exercise of
the equitable jurisdiction conferred upon the Board," as has
actually happened in the case of Battersea Borough Council.
The subjoined was the official reply :—
Local Government Board,
Whitehall, S.W.,
6th June, 1904.
Sir,
I am directed by the Local Government Board to advert to
your letter of the 16th ultimo, with reference to the proposal of
the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth to establish
a Depot for the supply of sterilized milk ; and to state that, if
the Council charged any expenditure in connection with the
matter in their accounts, it would come before the District
Auditor in the first instance. The Board could not properly
intimate beforehand what course they would take if the Auditor
should make any disallowance or surcharge, and an appeal were
made to them against his decision. They would, however, give
due consideration to all the circumstances of the case in dealing
with such an appeal.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
The Town Clerk, (Signed) Thos. Pitts,
Lambeth. Assistant Secretary.
The Public Health Committee discussed at their meeting, held
on June 20th, 1904, as to whether or not this official reply of the