Volume 1

Second report.

  • Great Britain. Royal Commission on the State of Large Towns.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Second report. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    49/518 (page 37)
    services of efficient and experienced officers, who, as they will Drainage. be intrusted with numerous important duties, may be remu- Appointment of. officers nerated (at least, in many of the towns and districts) on a scale of such liberality that they may be persons of considerable professional skill and acquirements, and may fairly be required to give their entire services to the public. We feel assured that their suggestions will be more readily acquiesced in if they are independent of private pi'actice within the district under their charge. We are desirous of stating our opinion that an auditor should Office of Auditor in all cases be appointed, and that especial care should be paid in deciding upon the qualifications for that office. It is essential, for the efficient execution of his duties in checking fraud or pro- fuseness of expenditure, that he should be perfectly independ- ent of the body whose accounts he is appointed to control. iC We, therefore, recommend that the local administrative “ body appoint the executive and other officers under “ it; that the appointment and dismissal of the chief “ surveyor be subject to approval; that such officer “ produce proof of his qualification for the office to “ which he shall be appointed, and, if required, be “ subject to an examination.” Fourth Recommendation-. ] V. Having stated our views of the necessity that the Crown On thecompui- should exercise a power of supervision and direction over the uptown? ° local administrative bodies, in the execution of the laws for sanatory improvements, in cases where they are willing to exercise such new powers as may be granted to them, we now bring forward the mode of proceeding, which we recommend to be adopted in towns or populous districts, where grievous evils are proved to exist, and where the present authorities, or future administrative bodies, delay, or refuse to take mea- sures for their removal. There may be cases in which the local bodies will continue Obstructions to inactive. The contentions of parties and the influences of from conflicting local interests frequently impose a serious obstacle to the adop- tion of sanatory measures attempted and brought forward, by the administrative body, or by the intelligent and influential inhabitants. A large class of persons is constantly prepared to act in opposition to any scheme of improvement, from the unfounded fear that their interests will be affected. Such persons frequently obtain great influence in the decision of questions in relation to any alterations calculated to effect im- provement in the condition of the working classes.*