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8
coming from ports on the Continent, and during the past ten years no disease
has been brought by any of them.
With regard to vessels bound for places within the Port of Rochester, these
have always been required to " bring to " off Garrison Point at Sheerness,
where they have been examined by the Medical Officer of this Authority
stationed there. It was proposed that only vessels with infectious diseases on
board should be required to "bring to " at this place, all others being allowed
to pass up to the Port of Rochester. It was obvious that this would have
thrown the responsibility of deciding whether a person was suffering from an
infectious disorder or not on the shoulders of the Master of the vessel,
who could not be expected to have the necessary skill to diagnose such complaints,
and who could not be expected to " bring to " in any case of doubt,
inasmuch as should it turn out not to be a case of infectious disease, he would
incur the blame of his owners for any delay the vessel may have been put to.
The Rochester Port Sanitary Authority were naturally opposed to any
alteration in the existing arrangement, and in this they were supported
strongly by the Port Sanitary Committee, who stated that, " the Committee
" recognise that they have no right of criticism of any arrangement made
" between His Majesty's Customs and the Port Sanitary Authority of
" Rochester as affecting the Port of Rochester, but they wish to place on
" record their opinion that the arrangement proposed is undesirable and is not
" in the interest of public safety ; should, however, the alterations be insisted
il on by His Majesty's Customs, the Port of London Sanitary Authority will
" be prepared to make such arrangements as may be necessary and consequent
" thereon."
The Town Clerk of Rochester has since received a letter from the Collector
of Customs at Rochester to the effect that, " having regard to the views
u expressed by the Local Sanitary Authority on the subject, it has been
" decided that no alteration be made in the boarding station for the Port of
" Rochester, which will remain as at present, Garrison Point in the Isle of
" Sheppey.",
It will therefore be seen that there has been no alteration as regards the
examination of vessels from " foreign " arriving in the Port of London, which
will remain as heretofore, and which has been found to work very satisfactorily.
An application, however, will be made to the Local Government Board to
extend the Bye-laws made by the Port of London Sanitary Authority relating
to dangerous infectious disorders, so as to make them applicable to all vessels
arriving from " foreign " in the Port of London, whether they are bound for
places above Gravesend or to any place below, including the Port of Rochester.