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notice the distress existing would be likely to be brought, and
the following report contained a brief summary of the varied
opinions obtained:—
The Vestry, on the 17th inst., had submitted to them letters
from the Local Government Board, and the Metropolitan Public
Gardens Association, with reference to the special distress
whicn is alleged to exist at the present time in the Metropolis.
With reference to the portion of the Board's letter referring
to the disused Burial Grounds or Churchyards of the Parish, the
Vesitry found no difficulty in arriving at the decision to recommend
St. Giles' Churchyard, St. George's Churchyard, and the Burial
Ground at Dulwich as, in their opinion, spaces which could,
with advantage, be levelled and laid out as Recreation Grounds.
In accordance with this resolution I have been in communicacation
with the Local Government Board, and with the Chairman
(Lord Brabazon) and the Secretary to the Public Gardens
Association, and have pointed out to the latter that, in my opinion,
in the case of each Churchyard or Burial Ground referred to by
the Vestry, a faculty would be required before any steps could
be taken to give work upon them to the "unemployed." The
obtaining of these faculties would take, at least, two months,
and would further, depend upon the sanction of the incumbents,
or others interested. In view of these difficulties, and having
regard also to the fact that even when successful, occupation
would be found only for a short period, I cannot think that this
must be looked to as a means of affording any material relief in
the present special distress.
With regard to the main difficulty of the reference of the
Vestry, viz., the answers to the questions of the Local Government
Board, I have endeavoured to obtain such information as
I thought might assist the Committee in their deliberations.
With this view I forwarded a letter to the Medical Officers of the
Parish, the Relieving Officers, Sanitary Inspectors, Head Masters
of Board, Ragged, National and Sunday Schools, Inspectors