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Control of expenditure can therefore be exercised at the Government
Department concerned, although local responsibility and the stimulus for
maintaining economy with efficiency is not removed from local authorities.
The advocates of a block grant consider that when an allocation is made only
general supervision would be exercised by a Government Department, and local
authorities would not be subject to hampering control of detail. If this is so it
might result in the grant being used for the expansion of one form of service to
the neglect of another.
It might be urged with a show of reason that the objections to a block grant
include
The danger of reducing the national share of the burden of national
services without the possibility of corresponding reductions in local
expenditure consistently with a due standard of efficiency.
The difficulty of equitably assessing grants in proportion to the needs
of a district and the tendency to stereotype grants at a uniform level without
sufficient regard to local circumstances.
The danger that block grants would not keep pace with growing
demands, whether due to increase of population or legislation.
The Council expressed the view that no alteration should be made in the
present percentage basis of grants, but if ultimately it is decided that block grants
should be substituted, that the position of local authorities should be safeguarded
in the following respects: —
(a) The grant for approved service should not be less in proportion to
the expense of the service than the grants under the existing system.
(b) Due consideration should be given to the services maintained and
deemed essential by the local authority in view of the circumstances of its
area.
(c) A local authority after approval of its estimate should not be
required by legislation or the action of a Government Department to
undertake services not provided for in their estimate unless the grant is
also increased.
Health Week and Baby Week.
Following the precedent of 1921 the celebration of these weeks was in the
main combined and observed from the 8th-14th October, 1922. Among the steps
taken to secure the success of these special weeks were the following: —
1. The Clergy. Sunday School Teachers, and promoters of meetings for
men and women were asked to co-operate, by arranging for special sermons,
lessons, addresses, etc.
2. Two prizes for each school in the Borough, one for boys and one for girls,
were offered for the writers of the best essays on "How I Can Keep Myself
Healthy." It was arranged that the essays should be based, at the discretion of
the Head Teachers. either on special lessons or on the routine lessons on hygiene
given during the year.