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in the "system" of inspection, and to the need for "large powers
of inspection as a remedy for many evils." Passing by the fact that
not one Metropolitan Sanitary Inspector was called before the
Commissioners, and that, so far as appears, the Commissioners were
without knowledge of the immense amount of inspection and sanitary
work being carried on from day to day, as set out in the statutory
annual reports of the Local Authorities and their officers, I conclude
by observing that when the proposed "large powers" shall
have been conferred, and when the causes of present " failure in
administration," shall have been removed, by "amendment of
legislation"—primarily directed to secure increased rapidity in
procedure—grounds for complaint will, as I sincerely believe, be
largely diminished even if they do not cease to exist.
Addendum.—After the above section of the report had been
completed, it was publicly stated by Sir Charles Dilke, the late
President of the Local Government Board, who is also the Chairman
of the Royal Commission, that the Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury,
who moved the appointment of the Commission, would bring in a
Bill, during the present Session, for giving effect to the
recommendations in respect of which the Commissioners were
unanimous, and that he himself would probably take charge of the
measure in the House of Commons. Accordingly, in the present
month (July), a Bill entitled "Housing of the Working Classes
(England) Act, 1885," was introduced by Lord Salisbury in a
remarkable speech, from which it may be inferred that the Bill is
only an instalment of the good things which some of the leading
statesmen of the two great parties desire to bestow on the Working
Classes. That their labours may be attended with success and lead
to a most necessary reform, which will have far-reaching effects, by
improving the moral and physical welfare, and increasing the
happiness, of the people, must be the earnest desire of everyone
who has the true interests of his country at heart.
The following is a brief summary of the provisions of the
Bill:—
Section 1 deals with the Labouring Classes, Lodging Houses, (Lord
Shaftesbury's) Acts, and is an attempt to make them workable by simplifying