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"I am to observe that this Rule was adopted by the Secretary of
"State after repeated and urgent representation of the Local
"Government Authorities through the Local Government Board.
"These representations shewed clearly that the former rule, under
"which half pay was issued during the whole period of a man's
"absence through infection in his house, tended to defeat the objects
"of the Legislature, which by the Public Health (London) Act, 1891,
"54 and 55 Vict., cap. 76, empowered the sanitary authorities to
"provide hospital accommodation for the isolation of persons suffer"ing
from infectious disease.
"The new Rule has now been in operation six months, and the
"Secretary of State has already received testimony to its value in
"aiding the Local authorities in the isolation of infectious disease,
"and he is not prepared to sanction its repeal.
"It has, however, been brought to Mr. Campbell-Bannerman's
"notice that in a few cases hardship has been occasioned by the
"compulsory absence of men in cases where an infected person
"could not be removed on account of insufficient hospital accom.
"modation. In such cases, where properly certified by the local
"authorities, he has directed that the operation of the new Rule bo
"relaxed."
"I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
"WM. WOODALL.
The old rule undoubtedly tended to the retention in the district of
infectious cases, the government grant being supplemented by contributions
from one or more infectious sick clubs.
2. The Metropolitan Asylums Board have decided to erect a Fever
Hospital at Shooter's Hill, on a site adjoining the Herbert
Hospital.
This cannot fail to be a very great boon for Woolwich and the
adjoining districts. In the past we have frequently suffered from
want of hospital provision, and a further disadvantage has been the
distance of the nearest fever hospital, viz., the South Eastern Hospital
from Woolwich. The necessity for such provision is more than ever
urgent in view of the recent War Office circular, to which I have
alluded,
A most determined opposition was, however, given to the erection
of a hospital on this site, both by the War Office and by certain
residents on Shooters' Hill.