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the conference had in view, by calling attention to a practical injustice
in the working of an otherwise beneficent Act (The Metropolitan
Poor Act, 1867); and that Parliament could scarcely do otherwise
than remove an anomaly that had been so glaringly illustrated.
At this third meeting of the Conference, the Resolutions adopted
were as follow
(1.) "That a memorial be prepared and presented to the Home
Secretary, in accordance with the terms of the resolution
passed at the last meeting of the Conference;" and
(2.) "That a Committee be appointed to prepare such memorial,
and arrange for its presentation by a deputation."
Referring to these resolutions, I ventured in my Report for Nov.
13th (No. 13, page 95), to express my hope that the right hon. gentleman,
should he consent to receive the deputation (the question belonging
to the Local Government Board) would have his attention called to
the necessity of depauperising the "relief" afforded in the "infectious
diseases hospitals," by a short Act or a clause, framed on the model of the
26th section of the Vaccination Act (30 and 31 Vic. cap. 84) in some
such words as these:—" It is hereby declared that the surgical or
"medical assistance and the maintenance incident to the treatment of any
"person in a union or parish, hereafter removed to a hospital provided
"for the isolation and treatment of persons suffering from any infec"tious
diseases, shall not be considered to be parochial relief or charitable
"allowance to such person, or his parent, and no such person or his
"parent shall by reason thereof be deprived of any right or privilege,
"or be subject to any disability or disqualification:" and I further expressed
my belief that it would be sound policy to make no distinction
of persons in a matter of this kind, and not to compel any one to pay
for the assistance afforded by the hospital. Accommodation of a superior
or more private character might be provided for persons who are able
and willing to pay, at the "London Small-pox Hospital" and the
"London Fever Hospital."
In March this year, a large and influential deputation waited on the
President of the Local Government Board; the Home Secretary
having, as I anticipated, referred the Committee to Mr. Sclater Booth.
Mr. Lindsay, a member of your Vestry, had been chosen by the
Delegates to give expression to their views; the main object of the
Conference, as it ultimately took shape, being to induce the