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this duty. Further, it has taken over the powers of the Privy Council
under the Midwives Act, and the powers for infant life protection which were
vested in the Home Secretary. The Act, moreover, was wisely framed to
enable further transfers to be made by Order in Council, so that as time and
opportunity allow, the operations of the Ministry of Health shall be really
comprehensive and complete. Dr. Addison has been prompt in setting up
Consultative Councils and in re-organising administrative machinery, but the
benefits of the change cannot be expected yet to be felt.
I submitted the Bill to the Public Health Committee in March,
remarking that it was the most important one associated with their work
which had been presented to Parliament since the Public Health Act, 1875 ;
I also presented a useful memorandum from the Society of Medical Officers of
Health, indicating how this Bill might be amended with public advantage,
but no action was taken thereon.
In November I was informed that by arrangement with the Chancellor
of the Exchequer and with the Prime Minister's approval, the Ministry of
Health would now be responsible for the whole administration of the
department of the Registrar General and the organisation of the census of
1921.
By Order of the Privy Council towards the end of the year, the Ministry
of Health took over the powers of the Home Office under Part I of the
Children Act, 1908. This should have been followed by the complete
transfer locally of the powers from the Edmonton Guardians to my Council.
2.—Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
This comes into force on January 1st, 1920. It requires every person to
take such steps as may be necessary from time to time to destroy rats and
mice on land of which he is the occupier, and to prevent such land becoming
infested with these vermin. The County Council can delegate to District
Councils their functions under the Act.
3.—Pneumonia, Etc., Regulations, 1919.
This Order was dated January 7th, 1919, and came into force on March
1st, 1919. For further information see Section II A.
4.—Rag Flock Act, 1911.
A Circular dated 26th May, 1919, from the Local Government Board
stated that complaints had been made that the above Act is not uniformly
administered throughout the Country, and that consideration was necessary
to two points in connection therewith, namely, the definition of "flock" in
Section I (1), and (2) whether re-made mattresses come within the scope of
the Act.