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whether full or empty. This system had been in partial operation from the
passing of the Act in 1869, to Midsummer, 1872,—partial, because all
owners were not rated, and it was found not only undesirable but next to
impossible to rate all tho owners who did not desire to be rated and
where the tenants were willing to be rated and to pay the rates. The
Yestry determined to reeonsider this arrangement, and referred the
question to the Finance Committee. After giving the subject a careful
consideration and comparing the practice of this parish with that of
other similar parishes, the Committee recommended the Yestry to
rescind the former resolution and to act under the 3rd Section of the
Act, which enables the Yestry and owners mutually to agree, without
compulsion on either side, and the owners to pay the rates and receive
an allowance. The maximum allowance under this Section is 25 per cent,
and this is the scale adopted, and is to take effect from the present
Midsummer. There will therefore bo a proper agreement between all
owners and tho Yestry where the allowance is asked and given, and
there will bo no longer a 15 per cent, and a 30 per cent, allowance,
but an uniform scale of allowance of 25 per cent.
It is anticipated that the difference of 5 per cent, in the allowance
will be a saving to tho Yestry of about £1000 per year,—and this is
important, seeing that the amounts which the parish has to pay to the
Police, County, School Board, Metropolitan Board, &c. are calculated
upon the fall rateable value of the property, and not upon the nett
amount of rates received.
ADULTERATION OF FOOD ACT.
The appointment of an Analyst for this Parish, was under consideration
at the end of the official year. Since then, viz. in May,
Dr. Stevenson, Professor of Chemistry at Guy's Hospital, has been
appointed the analyst for this parish, for one year, at a salary of £50,
with 10s. for each analysis ; and the appointment has been approved by
the Local Government Board. The Vestry has fixed 2s.6d. as the fee
to be paid by purchasers of articles on submitting the same for examination.