View report page

27
ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN OF VESTRY.
As required by the provisions of the Local Government
Act, 1894, the Vestry at their first meeting after the election
in May, 1896, proceeded to elect a Chairman, when
Mr. William Winnett, of 73, Wardour Street, was unanimously
re-elected Chairman of the Vestry until the next
election of Vestrymen in May, 1897.
ELECTION OF VESTRYMEN AND AUDITORS.
The annual election of Vestrymen and Auditors in this
Parish was held on Monday, the 18th May, the day fixed
by the Vestry. The Local Government Board, in their
General Order of the 24th March, 1896, relating to the
nomination and election of Vestrymen in that year, fixed
Monday, the 18th May, 1896, or such other day not earlier
than the l6th May, or later than the 20th May, as might be
fixed by the London County Council. The Vestry ventured
to question the power of the Local Government Board to
either fix the day of poll themselves or authorise the
County Council to do so, as they believed that the right of
appointing the day of election in the month of May was
still reserved to them under section 7 of the Metropolis
Local Management Act, 1855, which had never been
repealed. The opinion was accordingly taken of Mr. Alexander
McMorran, Q.C., who endorsed the Vestry's view
that the Local Government Board had not power to fix the
date of election or to enable the County Council to do so.
The Election in St. James's therefore was fixed by the
Vestry for Monday, the 18th May, and the poll was taken
on that date in lieu of Saturday, the 16th May, the date
fixed by the County Council.
Much more activity than usual was displayed at this
election, particularly in the Golden Square and Great
Marlborough Wards of the Parish where several new
members were elected for the first time on the Vestry.