Local Board of Health.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3911, 12 July 1881, Page 2

Local Board of Health.

A special summoned meeting of the Local Board.of Health was hela at the Borough Chambers yesteyday afternoon Present i—The Mayor (in " the phair), Messrs ]\fcGowan, Yeale, Osborne, Meqnie, Bawden, atjd Marshall.

The following letter was read s—" The Presbytery. Thames, UtJi July,. 1881.--Dear Sirr^ Feg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth inst,, io which you inform me that the Local Board of Health request me to cause the Catholic schools of this town to be closed for the period of one month from the date of your letter. la reply thereto, I have the Ijonour to state, for fhe information of your B,oard, that X regret my inability to comply with their request, for the following reasons :—The teachers of the schools under my conti'ol are dependent for their mainteuanceon the school fees., the Sifters of Merpy entirely so, and therefore the plosing of the schools would materially affect their income. Moreover, I am not aware that any phildren belonging to families, any member pf which is afflicted with scarlet fever attend those schools ; and I have given instructions to the teachers not A ,to receive any new pupils for the preseut. I"trust the Board will not (Link me very presumptuous when J state that after reading the very sensible letter published by Dr Kilgour, a medical gentleman of 'large experience, in one of the local papers the other day, I cannot see the necessity for taking such extreme measures as the cjosing of non-infected'schopls. Allow me \o tbahjf the Board for their courtesy in merely requesting me to plo?e the schools when, as you state in your letter they could order them to be closed. Jn case the Board should order the closing of the schools, the teachers will require compensation. The Sisters of Mercy at a

moderate computation, estimate the loss of income through the proposed closing of their schools at £20 for the month, and that of the teachers of. the boys' school for the same period at £16. I may also add that in deference to the wishes of the Board and because children other than those attending the Catholic day schools of the district attend- the Sunday Schools in my charge, the latter were closed yesterday. —1 have, &c, P. CReilley.

A letter was also received from the Governors of the High School, giving reasons for their refusal to comply with" the request of the Board. Reference was made to the limited number of scholars, and that no case of scarlet fever had been reported among them ; that it was not the custom in Auckland to close secondary schools, such as the High School, during the prevalence of an epidemic disease.; and questioning the wisdom of the closing of schools, and enforcing idleness on such a large number of children.

Mr Marshall was inclined to take no further action in the matter of closing schools. If directors of school refused to close them, the responsibility rested apon them if deaths occurred from the prewP lent disease.

The Chairman directed attention to the question of compensation referred to in Father O'Beilley's letter. Mr Veale said if the Board had the- r power, he was inclined to compel tire v. schools to close. ' Mr McGowan supported the, views pL Mr Veale, aud suggested that the CentmT Board should be asked to Gazette regulg* tions rendering it compulsory. Mr Mennie said too much fuu 4h being made about the subject of scarlet fever ; yet he admitted, in the face of the letters from the surgeons, the Board wa«. called upon to take some steps. Mr Marshall suggested tba,t all Jhe doctors be requested to report fteth cases.

Mr McGowan proposed that the Central Board be requested to frame regulations. The Mayor objected to the proposal, * and moved that until the Board irai - satisfied of it legal position no farther action be taken. The motion was, however, carped;; Mr Mason said Dr Payne hid informed him that he knew of twenty cases in the place. . . , -r

On the motion of Mr Marshall, letters were ordered to be written to. the medical men, asking them to report ,each fresh case. . ' > "" '■" 4

Mr Mennie mored a resolution to the effect that letters be sent in reply to the letters from the Governors of the Higk School and Father O'Beilly, staring the regret of the Board that the jfeqqeat to, close the schools had not been complied with, and reminding the writer^ tlntitAc responsibility rested with them should afeg. deaths occur in their schools from scatte# ferer. ■! :•V " r ;.-■.