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53
Board of Education may, in accordance with recommendations
made by the Committee appointed for the purposes of the Act
by the Prime Minister and in accordance with arrangements
approved by the Treasury, make grants towards expenses of
a Local Authority in aiding the provision of facilities for
physical training and recreation, and also towards the training
and the supply of teachers and leaders. Local Authorities
interpreted by Section 9, include County Councils, County
Boroughs, Metropolitan Boroughs, County Districts and
Parishes.
Having regard to the public health advantages which
would materialise from physical training, recreation, and the
provision of bathing places in the various Recreation grounds
situated within the Erith Borough Boundary, I would recomment
that the provisions of this Act should be exploited to
the full which generally prescribe for the development of
facilities for, and the encouragement of physical training and
recreation and to facilitate the establishment of centres for
social activities. For this purpose, I would recommend swimming
pools and bathing places in all recreation grounds, and
adequately equipped playing centres for children.
Open Air School.
The Borough Council may consider the question for the
provision of an open air school for child sufferers, and whose
education may be continued. Such an establishment would
be a Public Health asset, and it may be that adjoining Local
Authorities would contribute to a joint scheme.
Homes for Aged Persons.
In most administrative authorities homes for the aged may
be considered a public health necessity, for no amplification
on my part would describe the distress which is often apparent
in cases where aged persons occupy one room within a selfcontained
family dwelling. My experience would indicate that
aged persons have much loyalty to those districts in which they
have lived and worked during the greatest part of their lifetime
and it is with a certain tenacity that they desire to retain their
environment. Having considered this question most carefully
I am of the opinion that elaborate housing accommodation is
not necessary on the part of a local authority, neither is it
desired by the aged person. Re-housing of aged persons into
salubrious areas may in certain cases appear to have beneficial
results, but there are as always exceptions to the rule.
As a departure from the orthodox approach to this subject
I would recommend the purchase by the local authority of a
row, or rows of the older type of dwelling, and from which
the structure of bedroom accommodation on the first floor