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17,766. One witness has said to us in respect to these sanitary
inspectors and the work that they have done, that ho
thought they did very little for the salaries they got; and he
was asked if it was his opinion that if they were too active in
the case of a vestry on which there were a large number of
owners of small property, they would not be so welcome and
popular with the owners of that property as they were. Would
you believe that the fact that what they said would not be
palatable does affect their statements?—No; I do not acquiesce in
that answer.
17,767. But from your knowledge of human nature do you
not think it very likely to be true?—No, I think rather the contrary.
I am inclined to think that the inspectors being
appointed by the vestry, if any vestryman had a property that
required to be dealt with by the sanitary inspector, a friendly
word or two from the sanitary inspector to that member of the
board would be quite as likely to have an effect as a stranger
going and taking legal proceedings. I thing sometimes a good
deal more is done by a little amicable dealing with people than
by drawing a hard and fast line by the law.
17,768. More than one witness has said, speaking with regard
to these sanitary inspectors, and the sort of reports that they
made, "It is very likely that they may be influenced by the
"owners of property." Do you agree with that?—I do not think
that they would be influenced to the extent of their neglecting
their duty. I do not agree with the answer at all. It is an
answer which is calculated to prejudice the officers, and which
I entirely dissent from.
17,769. Do you think that the present mode of appointing
the vestries themselves, which lets in the owners of the kind of
property which we have heard about, and which is no doubt
allowed to be in a very unsatisfactory condition, doing a great
deal of mischief to those who inhabit it, is a satisfactory mode of
appointment?—I should be sorry to see anything brought about
that should constitute the vestry of men who had not a penny
to call their own, and who were destitute of property. I am inclined
to think that men of property are the most suitable men
to be elected on local boards. I do not care what their property
is, whether it is house property, or property in the funds, or any
other property, but give me men who have something at stake
in the parish.
17,770. But are those men who have property which it is
proved here is allowed to remain in a most deplorable condition
the proper people to bo on the vestry; and is an arrangement
which allows them to become members of the vestry a