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109
With reference to (a), the Managers almost unanimously
resolved to acquire the Tooting site. This decision excited
much opposition, and, after a public inquiry, the Local
Government Board informed the Managers that, " having regard
to all the circumstances connected with the site in
question, they had come to the conclusion that they could
not assent to the proposed purchase." The Board added,
that they "were very sensible of the difficulties which will
always attend the acquisition of a site for the purpose of a
hospital for fever patients in the Metropolis, and of the urgent
need of additional hospital provision, and that it was not
without much regret that they had arrived at the decision
that their consent could not be given to the proposal of the
Managers." The communication of the Board was referred
to the General Purposes Committee, with power to take action.
With reference to (b), the Local Government Board have
decided that a public inquiry shall be held upon the subject
before a final decision is arrived at. I am not aware that
the Board have come to any decision with reference to (c):
the Managers' proposal, however, is so reasonable that one
can hardly doubt its acceptance.
At the close of the official year, the Managers had under
consideration a recommendation by the General Purposes
Committee, for the acquisition of a site for a Fever Hospital,
at Hither Green, in the Parish of Lewisham, in the SouthEast
District. It has already been stated, that the Committee
were of opinion that, "besides extra convalescent
accommodation, sites for three additional Acute Fever
Hospitals—one in the North and two in the South of London
. . should be provided by the Managers without further delay."
The Tottenham site, it was thought, would suffice for the
north ; the Tooting site and the Lewisham site were intended
to supply the needs of the south. The Tooting site, as we
have seen, has been rejected by the Local Government Board,
and great opposition, on various grounds, has been raised to