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107
WARM BATHS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.
(Special Report presented to the Council on Dec. 20th, 1906.)
I am of opinion that much good, from a public health
point of view, would accrue from admitting school children to
the public Warm Baths at reduced prices, as is at present done
with regard to the Swimming Baths, and that the money
spent in connection therewith would be well spent, were the
scheme to be a success, if adopted, in Lambeth. Having
regard to the success that has attended the opening of the
public swimming baths to school children at reduced rates
in Lambeth, there is no reason why provision of warm baths
should not be equally successful, and I have every confidence,
therefore, in making this suggestion for the consideration
of the Council.
It is only right, however, that the Council should be
in possession of the facts as to the action (if any) of the
other Metropolitan Borough Councils. From a Return which
I have obtained, I find that warm baths at public baths are
available for school children at reduced charges as follows :
Bermondsey One Penny.
Bethnal Green (experiment for one
school only) One Penny.
Poplar Half-price.
Woolwich (on certain days) One Penny.
In connection with five of the Borough Councils, viz.:—
Battersea, Finsbury, Wandsworth, St. Marylebone, and St.
Pancras, provision of warm baths for school children has
been made under the Cleansing of Persons Act, 1897, in
connection with sgecial stations (not the public baths). The
question is still under consideration by the Chelsea and Fulham
Borough Councils, whilst the remaining Borough
Councils, including Lambeth (17 in number) have, as yet,
made no special provision, though the Southwark Borough
Council admitted school children into their public warm
baths a few years ago, at a charge of one penny each—a
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