The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-05 00:00:00

WITCH COMMITTEE.

The proceedings of this committee were read. They com -
prised the following recommendations —Recommendation to
accept the tender of Mr. George M'Coi quodalet for supplying
stationary for the ensuing three years, and tender of Messrs.
Hewson and Plocter, for printing, during the same period.
Recommendation to increase the salary of Mr. J. Kissed),
store keeper and station house clerk, from 333 per week to
£lO5 per annum.
Before moving the confirmation,
Mr. J. B. Brancker moved that Mr. S. R. Greaves be
elected a member of the committee, in the room of Mr. J.
Gladstone. `
Mr. Johnson seconded the motion.
Mr. A. C. Stewart moved, as an amendment, that Mr.
Kitche❑ be elected to the office. He had no objection to Mr.
Greases, but as it was desirable that there should be on each
committee a representative of each ward, and as there was no
member of St. Anne's ward on the committee, he considered
that when the opportunity now offered, Mr. Kitchen should be
elected on it. As chairman of the gas committee, Mr.
Kitchen would be also useful in looking after the lighting of
the town. For these reasons, and not from any personal
objection to Mr. Greaves, ho moved that Mr. Kitchen be
elected on the committee.
Mr. Crosthwaite seconded the amendment.
Mr. Alderman S. Holme admitted that Mr. Kitchen would
undoubtedly be a useful member of the committee, but
reminded the council that when any gentlemen retired from it
during the year, it was usual to elect his snece3sor to the
offices which he had filled.
Mr. R. Gladstone : Mr. J. R. Jeffrey was elected a
member of the council in the room of Mr. J. B. Lloyd.
Was he made a member of the Finance Committee in the
room of Mr. Lloyd ?
Mr. Alderman S. Holme That was a new election.
Mr. R. Gladstone : It makes no difference.

After a few remarks from other gentlemen. Mr. A. C.
Stewart withdrew the amendment, and Mr. S. R Greaves was
elected .a member of the committee.

The recommendations of the committee were confirmed.

Mr. Brancker then moved the confirmation of the general
proceedings, and in doing so referred to the lengthened report
on the minutes, of Major Greig, in reference to the necessity
of an increase in the police force. The report, which contrasted
the number and duties of the police force of the borough with
the police force of London, Glasgow, and other large towns,
was a very important one, and would be reported on by the
committee on a future occasion. _ _

Some discussion took place in reference to the refusal
to grant the use of fifty constables to the magistrates of
Birkenhead, on the occasion of the late turnout among the
navvies.
Mr. R. Gladstone and Mr. J. R. Jeffery complained that no
mention of this application appeared on the minutes of the
committee. They contended that this was a most important
question, and that the council and the public should be out
in possession of every circumstance connected with it.
Mr. Robertson observed that there was a misapprehensio❑
on this subject, which, if properly understood, mould have
prevented any discussion. Na application for the use of
constables at Birkenhead came before the committee. The
application was made to the mayor; he summoned a meeting
of the magistrates, at which Major Greig was present, and
they, after a full consideration of the circumstances, came to
the resolution to refine the assistance asked for. When the
watch committee afterwards met the whole disturbance at
Birkenhead was over.
Mr. J. R. Jeffery replied that the chairman and deputy
chairman of the committee were present at the meeting of
the magistrates, and having heard the statements which
were made to it, he did thins that they should have taken
means to have some record in reference to it placed on the
books of the committee. The corporation had large and
most valuable property at Birkenhead, but the force for its
protection, and also of the other property in the
township, consisted only of thirty men. That was
quite an inadequate force for the duties which it
bad to perform ; and he did think that the people of Bir-
kenhead should be required to increase it. But how did
they stand in Liverpool in regard to their own police force ?
[hey had a force of 1,000 men, and yet Major Greig
informed the magistrates, on the occasion of the meeting
referred to, that not only could he not spare fifty men from
the Liverpool police, but that he could not collect fifty men
before nine o'clock that night, it being then about half past