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89
the alleged danger to the public of vaccinated calves being
sold for food; (b) the administration of the various Vaccination
Acts with special regard to the cost to the ratepayers.
With regard to (c) and (d)—the working of the Conscientious
Objectors' Vaccination Act—it must be remembered
that, as far as Lambeth is concerned, the conscientious objectors
are practically non-existent, an average of 100 certificates
only having been granted since the introduction of
the new Vaccination Act, 1898. The Lambeth Borough
Council, consequently, decided to take no action in connection
with the repealing of Section 2 of such Act (vide
Minutes, 1902, page 779).
Having regard to the very great preponderance of Governmental
employes who believe in the great value of vaccination
and re-vaccination as an efficient and trustworthy
preventive against Smallpox, it is only fair that this large
majority should be protected in the way they wish, and not
subjected to an undoubted risk from Smallpox that might
arise, were unvaccinated employes accepted.
The Conscientious Objectors' Clause of the Act (Section
2) is as follows:—
"No parent or other person shall be liable to any
penalty under Section 29 or Section 31 of the Vaccination
Act of 1867, if, within four months from the birth of the
child, he satisfies (note the word) two Justices, or a Stipendiary,
or Metropolitan Police Magistrate, in Petty Sessions,
that he conscientiously believes that vaccination
would be prejudicial to the health of the child, and within
seven days thereafter delivers to the Vaccination Officer
for the district a certificate of such Justices or Magistrate
of such conscientious objection."
It must not be forgotten that the Act lays down that an
applicant for an exemption certificate must satisfy the Justices
or Magistrate that he (the applicant) has a conscientious
objection. It was definitely pointed out in the Final
Report of the Royal Vaccination Commission (pages 524527)
that the object of the exemption Clauses was for those
parents who were honestly opposed to the operation, and not
for those who were simply indifferent or neglectful.