View report page

56
became known to the local authority when the disease was assuming
an epidemic form. At present the Sanitary Officers have no power
to enter premises unless they have reasonable grounds for believing
that a nuisance exists therein; and the Vestry considering that more
extensive powers should be conferred on them in the case of large
institutions, where, if entry were refused, it might be difficult to
establish any such reasonable grounds, a resolution was passed to
the effect that in their opinion all institutions receiving inmates
should be under constant inspection by the Local Sanitary
Authority.
A copy of this resolution was forwarded to the Home Secretary,
who acknowledged the receipt thereof.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACTS.
The proposed amendment and partial repeal of these Acts was
brought under the notice of the Vestry on the 24th May, and
being of opinion that the operation of the Acts had been attended
by much benefit in garrison and dockyard towns, from moral as
well as other points of view, the Vestry passed a resolution asking
the Members of Parliament for Westminster to support the retention
of the clauses relating to compulsory examination, and inviting
the co-operation of other Vestries and District Boards in the
Metropolis in the same direction. A resolution condemnatory of
the Acts was, however, adopted by the House of Commons and
the Government have withdrawn those members of the Metropolitan
Police who had been specially detailed for duty in places where the
Acts are in force; but there was no legislation on the subject during
the year.
METROPOLITAN ASYLUMS BOARD.
A letter was received from the Hampstead Vestry in the month
of June objecting to any further expenditure of the ratepayers'
money by the Asylums Board in continuing the much-contested
litigation respecting the Hampstead Hospital. The Vestry, however,
did not express any opinion on the subject, being unwilling to