§ MR. LUPTONI beg to ask the President of the Local Government 1579 Board whether he is aware that Mr. F. G. Bowsher, 161, Shirland Road, Paddington, was unable to make the declaration under the Vaccination Act, 1907, within four months of the birth of his child on account of illness which confined him to the house; that Mr. Bowsher made the declaration as soon as he was able to go out, namely, on 2nd December last, and that the Vaccination Officer refused to accept this on account of it being made eight days too late; and whether he will consider the desira-ability of the vaccination officer exercising his discretion and not prosecuting Mr. Bowsher for the non-vaccination of his child, as Mr. Bowsher is only a postman and cannot afford to pay the penalty usually imposed under the Vaccination Acts.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) BatterseaI understand that the child was born on the 24th July last, and that on the 4th September Mr. Bowsher himself registered the birth at the Register Office, when the notice of vaccination was handed to him. A further notice was sent to him on the 23rd October. The period during which a declaration of conscientious objection could be made expired on the 23rd November, and on the 1st December the Vaccination Officer called at the house, when Mr. Bowsher informed him that he had been ill, but he did not say for how long, though the Vaccination Officer tried to elicit information on the point. I cannot undertake to interfere with any action the Vaccination Officer may decide to take in this case.
§ MR. LUPTONWas the notice usually sent out at the expiration of three months sent in this particular case?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI gather so.