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148
and the re-constitution of others; and he instanced spoeially
his recollection of many of the alloys in Clerkenwell, some of
which you have named. Do you agree in that estimate?—Most
decidedly I do. The improvement has been immense.
17,782. These demolitions for the Clerkenwell Road party
took place under the Metropolitan Board and partly under what
other Acts?—In some measure under your own Act— Torrens'
Act. That was putin force in 1869, and some property was removed
and rebuilt there. The whole of those courts would have
been dealt with under your Act, but it was known that they
would shortly be swept away for tho formation of this road, and
therefore tho vestry hold thoir hands a bit at the time, bocause
they hardly know what would become of tho poor if they were
swept bodily away; and in the moantime they gave every
attention to thoir sanitary condition ponding thoir removal.
17,783. It has been somotimos stated, to the Commission and
in tho press, that tho Clerkonwell authorities wore indisposed to
put my Acts in operation, is that correct?—No.
17,784. Is it true that they did put them in operation until
they were induced to hold their hands partly by the exceptional
causes you have stated, and partly by other considerations?—
Yes.
17,785. If tho Metropolitan Board had not thought it necessary
to make these groat demolitions in the parish of Clerkenwell
and its immediate surroundings, do you believe, or can you
state as a matter of your own knowledge, that the operations
under my Act would havo continued, judging from tho experience
which you havo had of thoir proceedings?—I am inclined
to think that the Yestry held their hands in consequence of the
Metropolitan Board not feeling justified in moving, as they felt.
If a Board like that cannot move and sweep away the property
and displace the poor, querry, how can wo ? It must involve not
only the outlay of a considerable sum of money but a very great
displacement of the poor.
17,786. Would it not have been a serious aggravation of tho
misery of the poor if the Yestry had gono on blindly applying
my Acts which were intended for general use while these exceptional
demolitions were in progress?—I think it would.
17,787. (The Chairman.) As regards the present day, have you
put Mr. Torrens' Acts in force since the amendment of tho law in
the year 1882?—We are just now doaling with several sites.
17,788. Have you considered the compensations under the Act
of 1882, and do you think that that Act will be in that respect
a satisfactory one?—I think so.