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demolishing a number of houses to make way for a new school
without providing alternative housing accommodation and the
Council accordingly registered its protest.
The year 1920 heralded the formation of a Maternity and
Child Welfare Committee and an increase in staff to 7 Health
Visitors and 8 Sanitary Inspectors. During this year a Minor
Ailments Centre was opened at the Borough Hall, the Ministry
of Health's sanction was obtained for the purchase of 105
Shooters Hill Road for M. & C.W. activities and the Council
acquired the lease of Conduit House for similar purposes. This
year also saw the first marked decrease in infantile mortality.
At this time, in addition to the normal functions of the Health
Clinics, the mothers' interests were sustained by the introduction
of Baby Shows, Mothercraft competitions, Christmas parties, etc.
Regarding other Public Health work during this period, a
yearly "Rat Week" was instituted throughout the Borough in
accordance with the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, and
Royal approval was given to the Rent and Mortgage Interest
Restrictions Act, 1920. A temporary Order for the notification
of Measles and German Measles made in 1915 having expired,
these diseases were made compulsorily notifiable from 1st July
in accordance with the Regulations of 1920.
After strong representations had been made by the Medical
Officer to the London County Council concerning unnecessary
duplication of visits by Health Visitors, authority was given in
1921 for the Greenwich Borough Council to assume powers
under Section 2(2) of the Children Act, 1908, in respect of
Foster-Mothers.
Prior to 1921 discussions had taken place concerning the
purchase of a site for a Maternity Home but as the suggested
premises in Maze Hill proved unsuitable the house at 78
Shooter's Hill Road was, with the Ministry's consent, acquired
by the Council for this purpose. The year 1921 also saw the
conversion of Conduit House and 105 Shooter's Hill Road and
7 Infant Welfare and 2 Ante-Natal sessions were being conducted
there each week.
At this juncture the interim Tuberculosis Care Committee
in its work was obtaining assistance from six voluntary organisations
and the Council commenced its housing schemes with the
erection of 190 houses on the "Hanging Wood Lane" site which
had been compulsorily acquired in the previous year.
The early months of 1922 witnessed the opening of the