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19
In May, circular-letters were received from the Vestry of
Clerkenwell and the Holborn Board of works of
copy resolution passed by them respectively as follows:"That
this Vestry petition the Board of Trade to institution a through
inquiry into the means of ingress and egress at all metropolitan
and suburban railway stations with a view if possible, of
ing similar melancholy accidents occurring to that which took
place on Easter Monday at Hampstead Heath Station"
The Board referred both letters to the Paving and General
Purposes Committee with power to act, and the Committee
caused a letter to be addressed to the Board of Trade
expressing concurrence with the reflation, and suggesting
that the insufficiency of platform accommodation should likewise
be considered.
Railway
Stations.
The Board also expressed its concurrence with the
fallowing resolution which had been passed by the Vestry of
St. Saviour's Southwark, and transmitted by the medium of
the Bermondsey Vestry:—
"That this Vestry urges the First Lord of the Treasury, on behalf of
the working classes, to arrange to open all Museums and Picture
Galleries that are supported out of the taxation of the country
on Sundays from Two o'clock till Ten, and close same on a week
day, so that the employes have not more than six days' work
each week, and that a copy of same be sent to each member of
the Government, to the Members of Parliament for the Division,
to the local representatives of the London County Council, and to
the Vestries and Ditrict Boards in the Metropolis, asking them
to assist this Vestry by taking similar action."
Opening
Museums on
Sundays.
In June, a circular-letter was received from the Vestry of
Fulhain, calling attention to the case of Gordon v. Williamson
touching the qualification of Vestrymen, and forwarding copy
of a resolution passed by a Committee of that Vestry on the
subject, as follows:—
"That your Committee being of opinion that a large number of
Vestrymen throughout the Metropolis occupy premises which
appear in the rate-book of a considerable rateable value, but sublet
a portion of such premises and occupy the remainder, although
the portions which they retain in their own occupation are, in
fact, of a rateable value of more than sufficient to qualify them
as Vestrymen, but are not separately assessed in the rate-book,
and having regard to the decision of Mr. Justice Denman, in the
case of Gordon v. Williamson are not therefore qualified to be
elected as Vestrvmen under the Metropolis Local Management
Act, 1855, and where they have, in ignorance of the law, been so
elected and attended and voted as Vestrymen are liable to penalties
for so doing, your Committee are of opinion that a Bill of
Indemnity should be at once introduced into Parliament to
protect such Vestrymen from penalties to which that decision
appears to render them liable, and also to amend the aw as
regards the qualifications of a Vestryman, so far as may be
necessary to qualify a person being a tenant of premises which
appear in the rate-book as of sufficient rateable value, although he,
may sublet a portion of such premises and occupy the remainder,
provided that the portion which he retains m his own occupation
is of sufficient rateable value to qualify him as a Vestryman."
Vestrymen's
Qualification.