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6
Print ing of
Accounts
an 1 Miscellaneous
Expenses
attending
I lie Office of
Churchwarden.
its being opened to the public as a recreation ground. As such it lias been
maintained by the Churchwardens up to the present time to the great benefit
of the public, the expenses having been defrayed out of the general rate.
The Committee believes that the Vestry is unanimous in desiring that,
with as little delay as possible, this ground should be placed in the same
position, under the Open Spaces Act, 1881, as the Parish Churchyard.
It is, however, necessary until this is accomplished, to make provision
for the expenses of keeping it in decent order and of the necessary
repairs of the walls and fences thereof, which are properly payable out
of the yoor rate, and for the expenses connected with its maintenance
as a recreation ground, which are properly payable out of the general
rate. The Committee accordingly submits two resolutions on the subject
(Nos. 7 & 8, Appendix F) which it recommends the Vestry to adopt.
The senior Churchwarden is required by Section 3.5 of the
Islington Local Act, 1824 (5 Geo. IV., cap. 125) to have his audited
account printed; this, therefore, is an expense over which the Vestry
has no control.
Admission
Pees.
The nature of the miscellaneous expenses attending the office of
Churchwarden is indicated in the "Abstract of Accounts " (Appendix B).
The first item under the head of miscellaneous expenses which
occupied the attention of the Committee was the charge in connection
with t lie admission of I he Churchwardens. The Committee has ascertained
that it is required not only by ecclesiastical law (canon 118) but also by
statute (5 & 6 Win. IV., cap. 62, sec. 9) that the Churchwardens
should be admitted by the Ordinary before their legal title to discharge
the duties of their office is complete. Fees are only demandable on such
occasions by custom,but they have been paid for so long a period by the
Churchwardens of Islington that, in the opinion of the Committee, such
custom has become establishe 1 and the fees are an expense incurred
by the Churchwarden "by virtue of his office" which may properly be
defrayed out of the rates. The fees payable are regulated by the table
of fees settled by the Archbishop of Canterbury and others, and published
in the London Gazette of March 19th, 1869, under the provisions
of 30 &. 31 Vic., cap. 135, and amount in the aggregate to eighteen
shillings. The Committee is of opinion that no expenses in connection
with the admission of Churchwardens beyond these fees should be
charged to the rates.
The Committee is of opinion that Visitation Fees ought not to be