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20
INQUIRY AS TO THE IMMEDIATE
SANITARY REQUIREMENTS OF THE PARISH.
On the 6th April, 1887, the Clerk submitted to the Vestry a
letter from the Home Office as follows:—
WHITEHALL,
April 5th, 1887.
Sir,
I am directed by the Secretary of State to acquaint you, for the information
of the Vestry of the Parish of Saint Matthew, Bethnal Green, that the Local
Government Board have referred to him the recent correspondence between themselves,
the Vestry, and the Mansion House Council, on the Dwellings of the People,
on the subject of the alleged unhealthy condition of certain premises within the
Parish.
As an Inspection in which the Vestry were themselves concerned would probably
be most satisfactory to all parties, the Secretary of State is of opinion that the best
way of accomplishing the desired object would be to follow the recommendation of
the "Royal Commission on the Housing of the Working Classes" (see page 36,
First Report, second paragraph), which runs as follows:—
"With the view therefore of bringing specially under public attention the
"Sanitary condition of the different districts in the Metropolis, your Majesty's
"Commissioners recommend that the Secretary of State should be empowered
"to appoint one or more competent persons for the purpose of inquiring as to
"the immediate Sanitary requirements of each District having regard to the
"several powers entrusted to the Local Authority, whether the Metropolitan
"Board of Works, or the Vestry, or District Board, that the Local Authority
"should be empowered to nominate members of their own body to act with the
"officers so appointed, and that the Report of the Result of such enquiries by
"the officers appointed should be transmitted to the Local Authorities, and
"should be also laid before Parliament."
The Secretary of State therefore proposes, in accordance with the above recommendation,
to appoint an officer to enquire into the immediate Sanitary requirements
of the Parish of Saint Matthew, Bethnal Green, and I am to request that you will
be so good as to move the Vestry to nominate two members to co-operate with the
officer so appointed and to cause the Secretary of State to be acquainted as soon as
convenient with the names of the gentlemen nominated.
I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,
GODFREY LUSHINGTON.
The Clerk to the Bethnal Green Vestry.
The letter was referred to a Committee of the whole Vestry, on
whose recommendation Messrs. Hilditch and Forrest were