Folios 144-145. To: The President of the General Board of Health. From: Charles E...

Folios 144-145.

To: The President of the General Board of Health.

From: Charles E Deacon, Town Clerk and Clerk to the Local Board of Health, Southampton [Hampshire].

Subject Matter: Letter advising that the Local Board of Health have, from time to time, had under their consideration the cases of parties who have been summoned before the Magistrates to recover the amount of rates owing under the authority of the Public Health Act 1848, and upon whom it has been impossible to levy the amount owing upon their goods. At the same time, it is said to have been well known that the parties in question were in good circumstances and well able to pay the demand made upon them. Deacon explains that that Local Board are of opinion that they should possess additional power to recover rates, and to make the amount owing a charge upon the property in those cases, and that Magistrates should possess the same power as they have over Poor Rate defaulters, to commit them to prison in cases of default. The Local Board are said to consider that much public good would result from the adoption of such a course of proceeding. They hope that the President will insert a clause in the Public Health Bill to carry out the views of the Board.