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183
5 MARCH, 1890.
came to the conclusion that it would be advisable to call a
Conference of Overseers, or bodies performing the duties of
Overseers in the Metropolis, in order to secure uniformity in
the course to be pursued, and your Committee therefore
instructed your Clerk to invite such Conference to be held at
the Cannon Street Hotel, on Tuesday the 25th of February,
at three o'clock in the afternoon.
That such Overseers were also asked to endeavour to
obtain the attendance at the Meeting, of the Members of
Parliament for their respective districts.
At a subsequent Meeting your Clerk reported that invitations
had accordingly been issued to eighty-two bodies of
Overseers, and their respective Clerks to attend.
That in addition to the necessary printing, your Committee
incurred an expense of £3 3s. for hire of the room, and your
Committee recommend—That their proceedings be approved.
That at the Meeting at Cannon Street Hotel, there were
present Mr. Spencer Charrington, Mr. F. Wootton Isaacson,
Mr. S. Montagu, three of the members for the Tower Hamlets,
and Mr. H. J. Wilson, M.P. for Holmfirth, Yorks, attended
in the character of a spectator. There were also present
representatives from twenty-eight parishes of the Metropolis,
and the following resolutions were passed which your Committee
approve and recommend—That the Vestry do receive
and adopt the same—
(1) That in the opinion of this Meeting it is desirable there
should be an alteration in the law, relating to the prosecution
of keepers of disorderly houses, by altogether abolishing the
system of payment of fees to informers.
(2) That having regard to the enormous increase which has
taken place in the population of the Metropolis since the
passing of the Act, (25 Geo. II c 36) "for punishing persons
keeping disorderly houses,"and to the consequent facilities
afforded to the keepers of such houses to escape prosecution
by removing from the jurisdiction of one parish to that of
another—
Having regard to the cumbrous method of procedure prescribed
by the said Act, and more particularly to the fact that
in the lietropolis a Police Force constituted by Act of
Parliament and under the control of an independent authority,
has superseded the Parish Constable referred to in the said
Act—
This conference of representatives of the Boards of Overseers,
and bodies performing the duties of Overseers in the
Metropolis, is of opinion that the suppression of brothels is