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61
Beyond the fact that Parliament signified continued approval
of the principle of notification, by passing the "Model
Clause " in certain Local Acts, in the Session of 1884, nothing
has to be added to the above statement; and although compulsory
notification is urgently required, it is evident that we shall have to
wait for a more settled state of political affairs before the present,
or any future, Government will be prepared to deal with the subject
in a general Act. Meanwhile it is well to remember that the
Sanitary Authorities in London have expressed themselves unequivocally
in favour of the principle of notification, their action
having been taken under the lead of your Vestry.*
It is noteworthy, moreover, that in Regulations framed for
the registration of houses let in lodgings, or occupied by members
of more than one family, "Notification of infectious diseases" is
required to be given to the Medical Officer of Health by the
"keeper" and by any lodger in a "registered house"—under
section 47 of the Sanitary Law Amendment Act, 1874, which
provides for "Notices to be given and precautions to be taken, in
case of any dangerously infectious or contagious disease, under the
powers of this Act, or of the principal Act (i.e. " Sanitary Act,
1866), or of the Acts mentioned therein."
Your Vestry, having made Regulations under the above Acts,
and deeming it unreasonable that there should be one law for the
rich and another for the poor, requested the President of the
Local Government Board, under date March 9, 1885, to take
measures for obtaining for Sanitary Authorities, the necessary
powers to enable them to secure notification. Either by a general
Act embodying the Model Clause of the Select Committee, or by
an Act to give such authorities the means of obtaining the powers
without the necessity of applying for a local Act; which might
be done either by a general Act which they could bring into force
themselves, or by giving them the power of making bye-laws for
the purpose in question. The Board promised " attention," and
there the matter dropped.
* Vide Annual Report for 1882, page 69 et seq.