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compelling compliance with those already issued, others would require
legislation.
(4) To offer expert evidence on the question to the Vagrancy
Committee.
It was resolved that such deputation should consist of members of the
Committee only, and that a letter should be addressed to the County Councils
of England and Wales, the Corporation of the City of London, the Councils of
County Boroughs and Metropolitan Boroughs, the Metropolitan Asylums
Board, and to the Clerks of the Peace of the Quarter Sessions, requesting
them to take such individual action as they are able within their own districts.
It was not until 22nd June last year that arrangement could be made for a
deputation, consisting of the Committee of the Conference and representatives
from the Association of Poor Law Unions, to be received by the President of
the Local Government Board. The deputation, introduced by Sir Walter
Plummer, J.P., was received by Mr. Balfour at the House of Commons.
Alderman Dr. Newton of Newcastle.upon.Tyne submitted the resolutions
adopted by the Conference, and similar resolutions adopted by the Association
of Municipal Corporations and of Metropolitan Borough Councils and the
Association of Poor Law Unions of England and Wales. He urged that
legislation should be promoted at an early date to give effect to the views of
the Conference. The Mayor of Wandsworth spoke on behalf of the
Metropolitan Authorities, and Dr. G. Millner Rhodes on behalf of the County
Councils.
At the conclusion of the latter's remarks Mr. Balfour, who gave the
deputation a most sympathetic reception, invited all those present to express
their views on the question.
CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS.
In the course of the year three cases occurred where it was necessary to issue
formal orders for closure of schools to prevent extension of infectious disease.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW THE GREAT SCHOOLS—INFANTS' DEPARTMENT.
On the 30th January, 1905, 16 children attending the Infants' Department
at St. Bartholomew the Great Schools in Bartholomew Close were attacked
with Measles, eight others were excluded on account of disease in the same
house, and two were suspected, a total of 26 out of 50 scholars on the roll.
In order to comply with the requirements of the Education Board, two
Members of the Sanitary Committee, acting upon my advice, signed a formal
order directing the closure of the Infant School for fourteen days from the
30th January, 1905. During the closure the school buildings were disinfected
and cleansed, and no further extension of the outbreak occurred.