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279
Under these circumstances, and having regard to—
(a) The extract from the letter of the Board above
quoted;
(b) The fact that every endeavour has been made during
the past 3½ years to obtain the provision of spectacles by
the child's parents or by voluntary associations, as required
by Circular 596 above quoted, with only partial success, as
shown by the fact that only 435 pairs of spectacles were
provided during the past 3½ years, as against 499 cases
awaiting treatment (mainly the provision of spectacles) at
the Eye Clinic on the 31st October, 1914;
(c) The fact that the cost of keeping a register in the
form above required, would be considerably more than the
actual amounts recovered;
I think that the Education Committee might take into
consideration the advisability of passing a resolution to
exclude spectacles from the procedure indicated by the
Auditor under the Local Education Authorities (Medical
Treatment) Act of 1909, especially as in view of the Board's
letter of the 11th July last it appears doubtful if the provision
of spectacles comes within the scope of Section 1 of
the Act in question. This section is as follows:—
"Where any Local Education Authority provides for the
medical treatment of children attending any public elementary
school under section thirteen of the Education (Administrative
Provisions) Act, 1907, there shall be charged to the
parent of every child in respect of any treatment provided
for that child such an amount not exceeding the cost of treatment,
as may be determined by the Local Education
Authority, and in the event of payment not being made by
the parent it shall be the duty of the Authority, unless they
are satisfied that the parent is unable by reason of circumstances
other than his own default to pay the amount, to