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50
certain methods for securing the suppression of such houses. The
memorial was referred to the General Purposes Committee for consideration
and report.
The report, which was adopted by the Vestry, will be found in
the Appendix. It will be seen that, having regard to the statutory
provisions under which alone the Vestry has power to act, it was not
deemed advisable to take the initiative in regard to the prosecution of
these houses, the Vestry endorsing its frequently expressed opinion
that the onus of prosecuting such houses should devolve upon the
police (as in the case of gaming houses), or upon a body having the
control of the police.
The action of the Auditor appointed by the Local Government
Board in surcharging, or threatening to surcharge, in this and other
parishes, any expenses incurred by overseers unless duly set in motion
by the ratepayers, as provided by the Act of 25 George II. c. 36,
resulted in a conference of representatives of the metropolitan rating
authorities being held (at the instance of the Vestry of the Hamlet of
Mile End Old Town), at the Cannon Street Hotel, on 25th Feb., 1890.
The representatives of Islington were not backward in urging their
views, and certain resolutions in accordance therewith were passed copies
of which will be found in the report referred to. No further action,
however, has so far been taken.