View report page

42
"in public rooms and vehicles. This was submitted to the Secretary of
"State for the Home Department, and at a meeting of the Council on
"Thursday a reply was read from Sir Kenelm E. Digby, as follows :—
" 'I am directed by the Secretary of State to say, for the information of
" 'he County Council, that, as the proposal is a new one, he has
" 'considered it very fully, and has taken expert advice, and that he has
" 'arrived at the conclusion that (subject to the consideration of any
" 'objections that may be received within the statutory period of forty
" 'days after a sealed copy has been submitted to him) he will allow the
" 'Bye-law to come into force if its operation is confined to public
" 'carriages, public waiting rooms, public halls, and places of public
" 'entertainment. He thinks that the Bye-law cannot properly be made
" 'to apply to churches, chapels, schools, and shops.' In accordance
"with the terms of the letter, amendments were made in the draft Bye"law,
which was then adopted, and a copy ordered to be forwarded to
"the Home Secretary."
Although only those affected with Tuberculosis can spread the disease in
this way, the early stages of the disease are so insidious that they are not
recognised by either the patient or his relatives, and it would be useless to
attempt to deal with "infected" sputa only, and the habit must be totally
prohibited in the case of both healthy and sick.
The matter was in due course referred to Mr. Remembrancer and Mr. Solicitor
to advise as to how best the necessary power can be obtained, suggesting only
that the co-operation of the whole of the Metropolitan Borough Councils be
sought in dealing with so important a subject.
Not only would the case become far stronger than individual action, but it
would be somewhat unreasonable to attempt to confine the restriction to the
City area. However obtained, the prohibition should be made to apply to all
pavements and footways, platforms, halls, booking offices, staircases and
waiting rooms of railway and omnibus companies, all public conveyances, and
all public halls, buildings and places of public entertainment, whether
admission be obtained thereto by payment or not.