Bromsgrove Rural District Council … … The Recent Diphtheria Outbreak at Barnt Green, Resident’s Claims Repudiated: A letter was received from Messrs. Pinsent and Co., acting on behalf of Messrs. H. Clifford Davis, G. C. Kendall, and C. Herbert Smith, stating that owing to the Council’s neglect their clients were obliged to leave their residences in Sandhills Road, Barnt Green, for the protection of the lives of their families and themselves. They claimed as out of pocket expenses respectively the sums of £8 3s. 6d., £3 0s. 6d., and. £5 14s. This, the letter pointed out, was out of pocket expenses alone, and was considerably less than their clients were entitled to, but if paid promptly their clients would accept the sums named in settlement, but in default they would take legal proceedings to enforce their claims in full. — The Clerk in reply to the Chairman, said his advice to the Council was to repudiate liability. –The Chairman said he considered that was the only action the Council could take, and if the matter was proceeded with, he would stay to defend it to the bitter end. There was no cause for the men to leave the neighbourhood, and there was not a single case of diphtheria in the road in which they lived. There was no neglect on the part of the Council, because through him (the speaker) the Council took action at once with regard to scavenging when the County Medical Officer called their attention to the need of it. — On the option of Mr. Stockdale, seconded by Mr. Key. the Clerk was directed to reply, repudiating liability.
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