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29
Agricultural
Rates Act.
This Act came into operation during the
year and the Board had some correspondence
witn me Local Government Board on the subject,
and pointed out that if the Vestries and District Boards
were not to be treated as " spending authorities " under
the Act, whilst the School Board was included in the
definition of that term, the portion of the General Rate
levied upon agricultural land which was raised for
School Board purposes would be taken into account in
determining the amount of the grant from the Treasury,
but that there would be no grant in respect of the other
portion of the same rate levied upon agricultural land.
It appeared to the Board that there was no reason for
the distinction, and they suggested that the whole of the
General Rate levied upon agricultural land should be
taken into account in determining the amount of the
grant. The Local Government Board, however, were
of opinion that they had no authority to adopt the
suggestion. The proposal of the Board, if adopted,
would have brought to the District a grant of nearly
Aoo per annum.
Vaccination
Acts.
The Board were invited by the St. Pancras
Vestry to appoint representatives to attend
a conference to discuss the desirability of the
administration of the Vaccination Acts being placed in
the hands of the Sanitary Authorities instead ot the
Poor Law Guardians, and the urgent necessity for the
Royal Commission on Vaccination reporting at as early
a date as possible. The Board, whilst concurring in
the views of the St. Pancras Vestry did not consider it
necessary to be represented at the Conference, but
informed the Vestry that they were willing to send
representatives to attend the proposed deputation, if
appointed, to wait upon the President of the Local
Government Board, and appointed Mr. Lidiard and
Dr. Gay to represent them. The Local Government