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rest—to road through the Vestry Minutes from the beginning
of 1881 to the present time in order to find out the
real facts of the ease. I have seen the written minutes
for two years prior to that in order to ascertain exactly
how the matter stands. Mr. Jennings, as I have said,
was elected Chairman of the Sanitary Committee in May,
1883, and June, July, August, September, October,
November, December, and January of the present year
passed away, and every recommendation made by the
Sanitary Committee, and by their Chairman, Mr.
Jennings, was carried without the slightest hesitation.
No amendments were moved or carried, and yet,
forsooth, "in every step he had taken in the interests
"of the ratepayers he was thwarted by those interested
"—by those having house property in Clerkenwell."
On the 21st of February, 1884, when the regulations of
the Local Government Board with respect to houses let
out in lodgings, were first brought before this Board,
that was the first occasion on which a reference back to
the Committee was made. And then what happened?
An amendment was moved and carried that the report be
referred back to the Sanitary Committee for further consideration,
and that in the meantime the Vestry Clerk
inquire of other parishes what they were doing in the
matter. And by whom was this amendment moved?
Was it by the "house-farmers," the "brokers," or the
"publicans," or the "money lenders"? No; it was
moved by Mr. Brighty, the champion of Sanitary reform,
and a member of the Sanitary Committee. And yet we
are told that at every step the chairman was thwarted
by interested parties! It may be said Sir Charles Dilke
spoke in Kensington Town Hall on the 24th of May,
and you are referring to what took place in February;
but I will tell you that on March 24th of this year Sir
Charles Dilke wrote to this Vestry a letter, saying that
on the following day two members of the Vestry (the
Chairman of the Sanitary Committee being one) were
going to bo examined before the Royal Commission on
the Housing of the Poor. I have proved to you that,
prior to that, Mr. Jennings had never met at the hands of