View report page

46
THE FUTURE.
1. During the phase when report after report was published
dealing with the future of such very varied subjects, when each interest
in its turn seemed to have in mind as local government districts suitable
for its purpose something different from any other, local government
itself might be thought to have been in the melting pot. For a time
at least that question seems to be shelved ; and with the death-knell
sounded for any form of regional administration comparable to that in
operation for Civil Defence, the stage seems to be set for the aggrandizement
of the Councils of Counties and County Boroughs with the consequent
belittling of the status of the so-called minor authorities. Time
alone will show whether this is the preliminary step towards the later
creation of all purpose authorities.
In education the change has already been made. The unification
of administration of the maternity and child welfare and the school
medical services has long been the advocated, legislation already exists
to enable it to be effected, while it is contemplated in the White Paper
on the Health Services. There is little reason to suppose then that
this as a service will not pass to the County Council, though again for
a while no doubt the minor authorities will continue to act as agents :
step No. 2 in the reduction in the status of the minor authorities. The
White Paper contemplates the handing over to the Hospital Authorities
the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of the isolation
hospitals : step No. 3 ; and how much remains under the direct control
of the local sanitary authority ?
2. As to the White Paper on the Health Services, already its
submissions, which it has been emphasized were brought out to be
discussed, have been substantially amended. The hospital districts
of sizes larger than the counties seem to be disappearing, with possibly
no other local government area brought into the picture than the counties
and county boroughs. Even if introduced in its entirety it would be
long before the proposals could be put into effect. In the meantime
it is probable that even though no part is introduced in the immediate
future that it will be there, having its effect on all new health proposals
of any magnitude, so that what changes or developments are made
will fit in the pattern laid down, so that the ultimate introduction of
the proposals would necessitate changes of far less magnitude than if
the corresponding transition were to be made to-day.
3. Turning now from these very theoretical issues—the health of
a community as of an individual depends very largely on sound feeding
and sound housing. In so far as the first of these concerns any body
other than the individual, it is of national solicitude. Feeding through
the war has been on a sound basis, and it is hoped that the success of
the arrangements in war will ensure the carrying on of similar practice
in times of peace, the most important measure perhaps being the provision
of "sufficient milk for expectant and nursing mothers and young
children. The obligations of the education authorities as to the feeding