View report page

7
of any age or proficiency in swimming, and the water constantly
running could be filtered through rough clinker
beds at tne upper part falling over a weir below.
With a view to increase the average attendance (average
attendance 1902, 83.8 per cent.; Surrey, 81.8 per cent;
Leicester 91'2 per cent.) one of your first steps will probably
be the appointment of an Assistant School Attendance
Giticer. As such officer would be trained in his duties under
Mr. Saull, I would suggest that a young man with the
certificate of a Sanitary Inspector would be the most suitable
for such a post. With an increased staff it would probably be
possible to see every absentee child on the second morning
of his absence from school. In such case it would be easy
for the School Attendance Officer to post a card to the
Health Department whenever he had reason to suspect
infectious or contagious disease—or the existence of any
nuisance. Medical notification often fails because the
doctor is not called in till the disease is well developed,
whilst sometimes he is not called in at all. This is usually
the case in measles and whooping cough, and these diseases
are often established before their presence is known.
These suggestions are for things that can be easily
carried out; there are other things of great importance
both to education and health to which I will do no more
than allude, such as eyesight, hearing, and defective teeth.
A very considerable improvement has been made by
the Managers of the different schools in accordance with
the demands for improved sanitary conveniences, drainage,
ventilation, etc. This is a tangible benefit and is, I hope,
an earnest of the improvements we may hope for from
municipal control.
HOUSING OF THE WORKING GLASSES.
Action under the Act has been taken in the case of five
cottages in Hampden Road. These houses were dealt with four
years ago and are of such construction and condition that