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further was done. It was quite open to the gentleman who
brought up the report and moved its adoption, if he thought
proper, to move that the clause be referred back for reconsideration,
and with some other modification it might have proved
acceptable; but no such step was taken and therefore the thing
has remained without any further action upon it. Whether that
can be construed into a determination to reject and to have
nothing to do with the regulations, I am not prepared to say.
I am sorry that I have not the clause before me, because if I had
it I could speak more positively upon it.
17,759. The result of it is this, that the regulations are,
if not dead, suspended?—Yes, they are suspended at any rate.
17,760. And there is a majority against them?—Yes, but do
not misunderstand me. There was a majority against the
adoption of that particular clause. Beyond that I cannot commit
myself excepting that I cannot put such a construction upon
the whole thing as to say that the regulations have been altogether
rejected with the determination to have nothing to do
with them; I am not prepared to say that, but I am only prepared
to say that on that clause being moved for adoption
it was negatived, and no steps have been taken since to revive
it.
17,761. But that particular clause was the chief enacting
clause, was it not?—It might have been, and I still say that it
might have been acceptable with some further modifications.
17,762. I have nothing to ask you upon the question of why
replies have not been sent to the Local Government Board ; that
is no part of my business, but it would be very interesting to
know the business that has occupied the time of the vestry so
severely since May 30th; have there been lengthened reports
from your sanitary inspectors and medical officer?—I think I
may say that there has been more than the average amount of
business of late, and we have had more than the average
amount of talk in the transaction of that business, and therefore
there has been unnecessary delay in getting that business off
the agenda, and in arriving at this particular question.
17,763. You cannot describe the sort of business?—No; it is
general.
17,764. (Mr. Godwin). I think I understood you to say that
you consider the present mode of appointing the sanitary inspectors
satisfactory ?—Yes.
17,765. But do you think so after what has taken place
this morning?—Yes; I have heard nothing to shake my
opinion.