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in only 7 out of the 26 convictions referred to were the parties sent
???o prison without the option of a line; in the other 19 cases fines varying
???rom £5 to £20 were inflicted.
The cost of these prosecutions, so far as ascertained at present,
???mounted to £237 16s. 8d.
In certain of these prosecutions your Solicitor (to whom in every
???ase the matter has been referred by your Committee) did not deem it
???dvisable to incur the delay incident to obtaining recognisances from
???wo ratepayers as required by the Act of George II., and your Committee
is informed that the Auditor appointed by the Local Government Board
is even now considering whether in these cases he shall not disallow
the expenses of the prosecution, and surcharge the persons who
signed the cheques for payment.
Having regard to these facts, your Committee is not disposed to
recommend the Vestry (acting as Overseers) to do away with the preliminary
notice which has hitherto proved by comparison so successful;
nor, having regard to the statutory "provisions (under which alone the
Vestry has power to act), and the recent ruling of the Local Grovernment
Board Auditor, does it deem it advisable that the Vestry should take
the initiative in regard to the prosecution of these houses.
Vour Committee is of opinion that whilst the law remains as at
present the Vestry should, as Overseers, continue to do their duty with
regard to these houses when complaints are made by ratepayers as
provided by the Act of George II., but that if it is considered desirable
that move stringent measures should be taken for suppressing such"
houses the duty of so doing should devolve upon the police, as in the
case of gaming houses, and that, if necessary, this should be the subject
of fresh legislation.
2. It has also had under consideration your reference of a
statement made by Mr. Memory in open Vestry on the 20th
December, 1889, to the effect "that Nos. 114 and 116, High Street,
Islington, were used as disorderly houses in 1886 and subsequently,
and that although the facts were known to the Vestry Clerk at the
time no action was taken until recently."
Your Committee finds from the Register kept of complaints with
regard to disorderly houses that the first complaint received with regard
to t he houses Nos. 114 and 116, High Street, was in 1884.