Hand Washing
At the time of the Aberdeen typhoid outbreak, I wrote about the necessity of people wash- ing their hands after using the lavatory. I am sorry to learn that what is probably the largest catering concern in the country hardly en- courages the practice. A member of the Spectator staff recently lunched with a friend at a J. Lyons Corner House. He used the lavatory, washed his hands and walked out. An attendant pursued him. 'Excuse me, sir,' said the attendant, 'but there's a charge of fourpence.' The Spectator man refused to pay. 'I regard this,' he said, 'as a scandalous tax on hygiene.' (The friend, anxious to avoid a scene, forked out the fourpence.) I now hear that two MPs, Mr. Dudley Smith (Conservative) and Mr. Christopher Norwood (Labour), are interesting themselves in, this and intend to introduce a Private Members' Bill when Parliament reassembles. The Bill would lay down that every lavatory in a public place—which would include municipal lavatories—should pro- vide proper washing facilities, and that those facilities should be available without charge. •I hope this measure gets all the support it deserves. It will certainly get mine.
Previous page
