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apply to all property under 20l.?—Not if it was only occupied
by one family; but, as a rule, I daresay there are lodgers in the
small tenements as well as in the large ones.
17,539. Besides Mr. Ross and Mr. Osborne, what generally
would be the votes on that occasion of the property owners on
your vestry? Perhaps the most convenient course would be for
me to put to you the questions that have been put to other
witnesses. I have already read what Mr. Jennings said in answer
to question 2947. Mr. Jennings, besides being asked with
regard to Mr. Osborne and Mr. Ross, was asked with regard to
Mr. Martin; he has a good many houses of that kind, has he
not?- He has several, I believe.
17,540. Mr. Henry Hill has several, has he not?—He has
several, I believe.
17,541. What do you say as to Mr. Thaine?—I believe he
does hold some.
17.542. Mr. Thaine was the owner of Exmouth Place, was he
not, which was condemned by the vestry as an unhealthy area?
—Yes.
17,543. But he has thrown it up?—I do not know.
17,544. Has Mr. Mortyn any houses of this class?—I do not
know that he holds any.
17,545. Mr. Jennings said that he did?—I am not sure. He
may. It is not my business to inquire what property people
hold; I do not trouble my head about it.
17,546. I am afraid we are obliged to do so, because the
statement has been made (and it seems a likely statement upon
the face of it) that where a very large number of the members of
the vestry, the chairman, and vice-chairman and some of the
members of the chief committees of the vestry and persons taking
a leading part in the parish are interested in property of this
kind, their possession of such property would influence them?—
I believe it is generally felt that those who hold property and
have something at stake in the parish are the most suitable men
to be elected to administer its local affairs.
17,547. But there is property and property; and property of
the kind held by Mr. Eoss, and Mr. Ball, and some other members
of the vostry is property which is peculiarly touched by
regulations of tho kind of which we are speaking?—I cannot
say that their property more than anybody else's is peculiarly
touched by those regulations. I should say that the regulations
would apply to poor property generally in the inferior parts of
the parish by whomsoever it is held.
17,548. Does Mr. Sans hold somo of this kind?—I believe he
does.