CIRCULAR OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD. WAR BONUSES. Local Government Board, Whitehall, S.W.1. 20th May, 1919. Sir, I am directed by the President of the Local Government Board to advert to the Circular letter of the 15th October last, which was addressed to Boards of Guardians, and to the Circular letter of the 11th December last, which was issued to other Local Authorities, on the subject of War Bonuses. In accordance with the Award No. 84 of the Conciliation and Arbitration Board for Government Employees, dated the 31st March, 1919, the Treasury have recently authorised for permanent Civil Servants a new scale of War Bonuses, a copy of which is appended, and Dr. Addison suggests that Local Authorities generally might think it well to take this amended scale for guidance in fixing or amending War Bonuses for their employees. The Award in question does not extend to officers receiving rations, but Dr. Addison thinks that in the case of rationed officers of Local Authorities payments might properly be made at such lower rate as may meet the special circumstances of the case. In the case of officers whose remuneration is subject to their sanction, the Board hereby sanction additional remuneration accordingly for such period as the scale authorised for Civil Servants by the Award above mentioned remains in force. In the earlier Circular above mentioned, it was suggested that, in the event of any difference arising between the Local Authority and their officers, the matter in dispute should be submitted to the Chief Industrial Commissioner's Department, Ministry of Labour. The Board desire to emphasise that suggestion: their sanction may be assumed to any increase of remuneration payable under an award so obtained. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, F. J. WILLIS, Assistant Secretary. The Clerk to the Local Authority. SCALE OF WAR BONUSES FOR PERMANENT CIVIL SERVANTS Men and Boys:— (a) to those of 21 years of age and upwards. (i.) If their ordinary rate of remuneration, as hereinafter defined, does not exceed 60s. a week-24s. a week, plus the equivalent of 20 per cent. of their ordinary remuneration. (ii.) If their ordinary rate of remuneration exceeds £156 10s. a year (60s. a week)—£60 a year, plus the equivalent of 20 per cent. of their ordinary remuneration; so, however, that the total rate of bonus shall in no case be less than that payable to a man whose ordinary rate of remuneration is 6os. a week and shall in no case be more than £300 a year. (b) To those under 21 years of age, but not under 18 years of age-175. a week, plus the equivalent of 20 per cent. of their ordinary remuneration. (c) To those under 18 years of age-11s. 6d. a week, plus, in the case of those of 16 years of age or over, the equivalent of 20 per cent. of their ordinary remuneration. Women and Girls :— (d) To those of 18 years of age and upwards-15s. a week to those on weekly wages and £40 a year to those on annual salaries, plus the equivalent in each case of 20 per cent. of their ordinary remuneration; so, however, that the total rate of bonus shall in no case be more than £200 a year. (e) To those under 18 years of age-11s. 6d. a week, plus, in the case of those of 16 years of age or over, the equivalent of 20 per cent. of their ordinary remuneration. Note. The above scale takes the place of all previous scales as to war bonuses. The term "ordinary remuneration" used above includes remuneration by way of allowance but excludes overtime pay, war bonuses and all other emoluments or their money equivalents. The rates awarded do not apply to persons whose permanent rates of salary or wages have been revised on a basis other than that of pre-war conditions, or to persons engaged wholly or mainly by way of manual labour whose remuneration follows the decision of a Court of Arbitration or other recognised machinery applicable to the district generally. The increases hereby awarded are to be regarded as temporary increases intended to assist in meeting the increased cost of living owing to the war, and are to be recognised as due to and dependent on the existence of the abnormal conditions now prevailing. CIRCULAR OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD. THE PUBLIC HEALTH (CEREBRO-SPINAL FEVER) REGULATIONS, 1919. Local Government Board, 17th June, 1919. Sir, I am directed by the President of the Local Government Board to state that he has had under consideration the administration of the Public Health (Cerebro-Spinal Fever) Regulations, 1918, under which County Councils and County Borough Councils are empowered to provide or arrange for the provision of serum for the treatment of cases or suspected cases of cerebro-spinal fever, and for the examination of suspected cases and of contacts. Difficulties have arisen with respect to the powers of the Councils to whom the Regulations apply to undertake the treatment of cases of the disease. The Board have accordingly issued an Order, copies of which are enclosed, rescinding the Regulations of 1918, and enabling County Councils and County Borough Councils to provide or arrange (1) for the examination and treatment of persons suspected to be suffering from cerebro-spinal fever, and of contacts, and (2) for the provision of serum and vaccine for the treatment of cases or suspected cases of the disease, and of apparatus for the use of the serum or vaccine. As the Board are advised that sub-acute or chronic cases of cerebrospinal fever have derived benefit from treatment with Sensitized Vaccine, the terms of the Order have been extended to vaccines. A copy of the Order and of this Circular has been forwarded to the Medical Officer of Health. CIRCULAR OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD. CELEBRATION OF PEACE. Local Government Board, Whitehall, S.W.1. 25th June, 1919. Sir, In view of the general desire to celebrate the declaration of Peace which marks the termination of the War, the Local Government Board have issued an Order enabling the several Boards of Guardians, Joint Committees of Boards of Guardians, and Boards. of Management to make such modifications in the Regulations in force with regard to the discipline and diet of poor persons in the workhouses and other establishments for the indoor poor as may seem to them suitable for the occasion. The Order contemplates that the event should be celebrated in these institutions on such day or days not exceeding two in number as may be determined by the Guardians, Joint Committee, or Board of Management, and authorises reasonable expenditure in connection with the celebrations. The Order also provides for reasonable additions being made to the relief given to the outdoor poor in the week which includes the public celebrations. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, To the Clerk to the Guardians, Joint Committee, or Board of Management. ORDER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD. CELEBRATION OF PEACE. POOR LAW AUTHORITIES. TO THE GUARDIANS OF THE POOR of the several Poor To the Boards of Management of the several School Districts To the Boards of Management of the several Asylum Districts formed under the Metropolitan Poor Act, 1867;— And to all others whom it may concern. WHEREAS it is expedient and proper that in connection with any public celebration on the occasion of the termination of the present War any regulations prescribed by the Poor Law Commissioners, the Poor Law Board, or by Us, the Local Government Board, and now in force in Workhouses, Workhouse Schools, Workhouse Infirmaries, District Schools, and District Asylums, should, so far as may be necessary, be temporarily altered so as to empower the Boards of Guardians of the Poor of the several Poor Law Unions in England and Wales, the Joint Committees of two or more of such Boards of Guardians, and the Boards of Management of the several District Schools and Asylums, to relax the discipline or vary the diet in such Workhouses and other Establishments in such reasonable manner as the said Boards of Guardians, Joint Committees, and Boards of Management may determine, and that such provision should be made as regards outdoor relief as is herein-after mentioned : NOW THEREFORE, We, the Local Government Board, in pursuance of the powers given to Us by the Statutes in that behalf, hereby Order and Declare as follows: ARTICLE I. The said Boards of Guardians, Joint Committees, and Boards of Management may, on the occasion of any public celebration of the termination of the War with respect to any such days not exceeding two in number, as may in any particular case be determined by the Board of Guardians, Joint Committee, or Board of Management, make such reasonable modifications in the regulations in force with regard to the discipline and diet of the poor persons in the said Workhouses and other Establishments and incur such reasonable expense in the celebration therein of the termination of the War as the said Boards of Guardians, Joint Committees, and Boards of Management may deem suitable. ARTICLE II.—We hereby Sanction the expenses which may be incurred by the said Boards of Guardians, including the Boards of |