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16
Sanitary.
In July, 1888, the Vestry received a letter from the Secretary of State for
the Home Department, as follows, viz.: —
Whitehall,
10th July, 1888.
Sir,
I am directed by the Secretary of State to acquaint you for the information of
the Vestry of the Parish of St. Mary, Rotherhithe, 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 are 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 especially under public attention the
sanitary condition of the different districts of 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 the 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 inquiries by the officers
appointed should be transmitted to the local authorities and should also be laid
before Parliament."
The Secretary of State therefore proposes in accordance with the above
recommendation to appoint an officer to inquire into the immediate sanitary
requirements of the Parish of St. Mary, Rotherhithe, and also a coadjutor of
medical sanitary knowledge and experience, 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 officers
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,
To James J. Stokes, Esq., (Signed) Godfrey Lushington.
Clerk to the Vestry of Rotherhithe.
The Vestry thereupon nominated Mr. John Bulmer and Dr. William Astley
Cooper to meet the gentlemen appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose
of inquiring as to the sanitary requirements of the Parish of Rotherhithe.