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155
The work carried out at the Personal Cleansing Station has
proved a great boon to those unfortunate persons who, owing to
their destitute condition, are unable to provide themselves with
a bath and clean clothing. Many of them have been able, as
result, to obtain employment, which in their previous condition
would have been an impossibility.
It should be stated that, in carrying out this useful hygienic
work, the Council is performing a purely voluntary duty. The
Act is not in any sense compulsory. A Local Authority is not
under a statutory obligation to administer the Act, nor, should
the Authority so decide is there any power to compel any person
to avail himself of its provisions. The experience of those (it is
to be regretted) few Sanitary Authorities in the County of London
has been similar to that of Battersea, the facilities provided under
the Act being largely availed of. Thus in St. Marylebone, from
March, 1898, to November, 1904, 32,500 persons had been
cleansed.
Under the provisions of the Cleansing of Persons Act, 1897,
"Local Authorities may expend any reasonable sum on buildings,
appliances and attendants that may be required for the carrying
out of this Act, and any expenses for these purposes may be
defrayed out of any rate for general sanitary purposes or for the
relief of the poor."
It is, therefore, clear that the Council have full powers to
extend this useful work, which in the short period that it has
been carried on in the Borough has been attended with such conspicuous
success. This should encourage the Council to further
develop their initial and, so far, inexpensive attempt to promote
personal cleanliness amongst the less fortunate members of the
community in the interest of the Public Health.
The Midwives Act, 1902.
This Act, which contains important provisions dealing with
infectious disease, is administered in London by the London
County Council, who are the local Supervising Authority; but