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The Minister also suggested that the County Council might think it well to consider
whether to call a conference of the owners of the land included in the original scheme with
a view to seeing whether it was practicable to arrive at a voluntary arrangement for the
development of the area on systematic lines when any rebuilding operations were undertaken.
It appeared to him that such an arrangement might well be to the advantage not only of
London as a whole but of the individual owners. In communicatiug his decision to the
latter, the Minister urged their favourable consideration of the matter should they be
invited to a conference by the London County Council.
Children's Country Holidays.
In connection with the arrangements made by the Children's Country Holiday
Fund, and the Fresh Air Fund, for sending children away for country holidays, we
receive and answer many enquiries during the summer months relative to the
existence of infectious diseases in the houses from which the children are drawn.
This routine co-operation between the local authority and the organisations concerned
helps to ensure that children who have been directly exposed to infection
shall not be sent away until danger of the development of disease in the contact
child is past.
Lavatory Accommodation on Railway Stations.
During the year attention was directed to the question of lavatory accommodation
for men at one of the stations of the Underground Railway in the Borough
and some consideration was given to the question whether the public health law
requires a railway company to provide sanitary accommodation for travellers using
the railway. The underground railways in London are, of course, in a special
position; their space below ground is limited, it may even be below sewer level,
and their journeys are short. Nevertheless, there seemed no reason why the ever
increasing crowd of passengers should be denied facilities at any single station or
be left in doubt as to which station contained what they required.
The big London shops and stores have long realised that the provision of
lavatory accommodation is an attraction to customers, if not a positive duty. If
the railway companies, whatever their freedom from statutory obligation, will
take the same view the public will be grateful.
The Holborn Council on considering the matter decided to communicate with
the railway company asking that in the interests of the public, the company would
re-open the conveniences at the particular station in question.
Propaganda.
Arrangements were continued with the co-operation of the Library Committee
for distribution of two bookmarks, one for adults and one for children. On the
front information was given as to health and education facilities afforded by the
Council, on the back of the bookmark for adults information was contained respecting
the arrangements for the prevention of diphtheria by immunisation; the back
of the children's bookmark contained hints to boys' and girls as to how to keep
healthy.
In the early part of 1928 during the preparation of this report, arrangements
were made with the approval of the Education Authority and the Head Teachers,
for a copy of the children's bookmark to be distributed to children attending
elementary schools in the Borough.