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179
and hand over to him the produce of the sale. As
it stands at present, Torrens's Act imposes penalties
on ratepayers, and rewards landlords who grossly
neglect their duties.
I have already in a previous report given my
opinions with respect to the enactments relating to
houses let in lodgings, and the difficulties which
attend their enforcement; and I might adduce many
other defects in the Sanitary Acts and many other
administrative difficulties besides those which I have
just discussed, where my present object solely to
lead to amelioration of the law and to excuse Vestries
for having failed to do their duty.
But I admit fully that the Sanitary Acts do
give Vestries large powers, and that when these
powers are exercised through officers who do their
duty conscientiously and judiciously much good may
be effected, and much even beyond that which could
be enforced by the strict and literal application of
the Acts. I will illustrate my meaning. I have
pointed out that it might be possible for landlords
and manufacturers, &c., by merely insisting on their
legal rights, to oppose almost insuperable obstacles
to periodical and systematic inspection of premises
I am bound to acknowledge, however, that it very
rarely happens that any one of the Inspectors is
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