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17,671. The assessment committee most undoubtedly has an
immense deal to do with small house property, and I find that
half of these gentlemen are on that particular committee?—
Then, if so, it is because they have been thought by the vestry
to be the best judges of assessment questions.
17,672. I have no doubt that they thoroughly understand
their own business, but outsiders might be disposed to think
that they might be slightly prejudiced by their possession of
this kind of property?--Perhaps it might be open to ridicule if
men of certain trades were put upon this committee, most unlikely
to form a particular judgment upon the duties appertaining
to the committee. As I say, I thoroughly believe that all
round the men are honestly selected for the various committees
who are considered the best fitted to discharge the duties.
17,673. You cannot be very much astonished if people draw
the opposite conclusion, can you?— Perhaps not; but I oannot
see why they should.
17,674. (Mr. Broadhurst). You have three sanitary inspectors
in Clerkenwell 1 understand?— Yes.
17,675. Is it true that one of them is also coroner's officer and
sexton of the church?— Yes.
17,676. What sanitary inspection does he do in addition to
those duties?— He was coroner's officer and sexton of the church
before he was appointed inspector under the vestry. The reason
of his being employed at all by the vestry was this: that we used
to employ our other two sanitary inspectors as messengers to
take out all board summonses and committee summonses, which
took up some considerable part of their time; and I was in
favour of their being relieved of that, and of their being enabled
to look more immediately after their particular duties. That led
to a messenger being appointed for the express purpose of
taking out the board and committee summonses, and relieving
the other two inspectors from that work. But, in addition to his
appointment as messenger, he was also appointed assistant
sanitary inspector, so that his services might be called into
requisition when occasion required to assist the other two.
17,677. Then your third sanitary inspector is sexton of the
church, coroner's officer, messenger to the vestry, and assistant
sanitary inspector?— Yes, occasionally he is an assistant sanitary
inspector.
17,678. Is he described officially in your parish as sanitary inspector?—
No, we do not recognise him as a sanitary inspector
to take any proceedings. We sometimes employ him to assist
the others in going round and surveying premises in general,
to see what state they are in, and to see if he can find any