The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-03-02 00:00:00

HEALTH OF TOWNS' ASSOCIATION.

The second annual meeting of the members and friends
of this association was held on Friday evening, at the
Music-hall, Bold-street. The attendance was more nu-
merous than was expected, considering that a discussion,
the announcement of which had excited much curiosity,
was going on in another part of the town.
The MAYOR (G. H. Lawrence, Esq.) was called to the
chair, and on the platform were many of our most respected
townsmen, in addition to the speakers hereafter named.
The CHAIRMAN was enthusiastically received. He
stated that he had to regret that he had not taken so
prominent a part in promoting heretofore the objects of
the association, but his lukewarmness had not arisen from
any indifference to those important objects, but to the
pressure of important engagements of a public character
during the last few years.
Dr. DUNCAN read the report. It appeared from this
that the great object in view had been fully realized here
and in other towns, an increased and still increasing in-
terest in the health of the working classes having been
roused throughout the kingdom. Similar associations
had been formed in various districts, and information had
been furnished to them; founded on the experience ob-
tained here. The government had also been roused, and
had sanctioned two bills on the subject of sanatory regu-
lations. The last bill, it is understood, will be superseded
by a general bill to remove nuisances. The sanatory bill
came into operation in January, and its importance could
not be too highly appreciated. Reference was made to
the supply of water, and the Council had taken measures
for bringing a copious supply into the town. The Health
of Towns' Advocate, under the able editorship of Dr.
Sutherland, had been productive of the most beneficial
results, and also the lectures of Dr. Grey, of King's Col-
lege, London. Several other lectures were stated as about
to be delivered by various scientific gentlemen, on subjects
connected with the public health. Many other matters
of detail were referred to, the most prominent of which
were a communication on the subject of Mr. M`Kinnon's
bill relative to interments in small towns, and the evils
arising from the practice in Liverpool,—the burial clubs,
and their sanatory effect on the working classes,—and the
practice of conveying the bodies of children in cars and
coaches to places of interment, besides the practice of
slaughtering cattle unfit for human food. The report
concluded by a reference to the exhausted funds of the
association. But the Committee's recent appeal had been
liberally responded to, and they trusted that their opera-
tions would not be allowed to languish for want of funds.
J. H. MACRAE, Esq. read a statement of the accounts,
from which it appeared there was a balance in hand of
£39 6s. Bd.
The Rev. H. H. HIGGINS moved the adoption of the I
report. He concurred with the facts it detailed, and ex-
patiated upon them. He hoped the association would ere
long extend its operations over the whole town, and
throughout the entire population.
Sir ARNOLD KNIGHT seconded the motion, which was
unanimously carried.
S. HOLME, Esq., moved a resolution to the effect that
the meeting received with satisfaction the influence and
progress of the association. Its influence had been
brought to bear on the public body to which he had the
honour to belong, and he felt assured there was not a man
who would stand up in the Council-room and object to the
course they had taken in the matter, but would agree with
him in opinion that what they had done was exceedingly
proper. The question was one which affected all ranks of
society, and a deep responsibility rested upon all, more
especially the wealthier classes, to come forward and as-
sist in carrying out the views of the association with which
they were connected, He furnished some interesting
statements on the general question. In conclusion, he
called the attention of the medical gentlemen to the ne-
cessity of considering whether it would not be better to
substitute an animal soup for that now given to the poor,
which was vegetable, and which, he thought, had rather a
tendency to increase the fever than otherwise.
The Rev. W. BRYAN, in seconding the resolution,
complimented the association on its exertions and success.
The resolution was unanimously carried.
The Rev. H. M'IsTEILE then came forward, and was
received with loud marks of approbation. It was the first
time lie had been able to avail himself of the opportunity
of taking part in the proceedings of the association. He
proposed a resolution to the effect that the meeting were
convinced of the necessity which existed in Liverpool for
the association, and hoped that by an increase in its funds,
ite operations might be more fully and beneficially ex-
tended during the ensuing year. The matter was a prac-
tical one, and called for practical treatment, and it was
only by acting upon that principle that they could ever
hope to command success. Mr. Higgins had stated that
its object was well known. He-believed there was a ge-
neral impression abroad on the question, but the great
point was, whether men's minds had laid hold upon what
the object was, and what was to be done. In every en-
terprise it was a part of wisdom to
_have a definite object
in view, and it was only by intelligent and comprehensive
views that proper measures could be adopted. The great
object they had in view was to improve the dwellings of
the working classes, and preserve their health, give an en-
largement of their comfort, and a prolongation of their
lives. In this there were many difficulties to be encoun-
tered as regarded the means they were to adopt, and he
thought there was one point on which there was a defici-
ency of information, and that was with respect to the
owners of the dwellings occupied by the poor. He had
never yet seen that part of the subject touched. If they
attempted to overbear the owner, and carry on the asso-
ciation in such a way as to make enemies of them, they
might retard their object for years. The only way was to
co-operate with them, and engage them to co-operate with
the association. Their humanity must be just to the
owners as well as to the occupiers, and it was unreasona-
ble to expect the former would voluntarily undergo a loss,
and make improvements that would involve an outlay
without return for their money. He proposed that any
alteration required to be made in the dwellings of the
poor should not altogether be made by the owners, but
that the Corporation should advance the money for such
purpose, and charge it to the owners to be repaid in small
instalments through a series of years. He called upon the
Corporation to set their friend Mr. Holme to work, and
the thing would be done. (Mr. Holme.—they cannot
employ me.) He (Mr. M`lsteile) was sorry for that. as, if
he were to do it, it would be done well. (Cheers.) A
word alto to occupiers of houses : if those parties would
only have better, dwellings, and pay a. little more, they
would be gainers by having less sickness, and consequently
less expense amongst their families.. Besides that,
they must abstain from going to the gin shop, and by that
means they would save equal to two rents. He called on
the Mayor to take the matter up, and bring it before the
attention of the Council, and he had no doubt it would re-
ceive that consideration to which it was entitled. (Cheers.)
Thos. BLACKBURN, ESQ., seconded the resolution.
Great advantage had resulted from the association in its
influence on the public at large, and it was with that view
, the society was formed, and not with the view of urging
the matter on the Town-Council ; and had it not been for
the existence of the association, that body would not have
got the large power they now possess, without some oppo-
sition. For his own part, he considered a large portion
of the town too bad to be mended, and there was no
remedy but pulling it down and rebuilding -it. (Hear,
hear.) The density of the population was such, that it
was impossible ever to mace the dwellings healthy while in
their present state, and no improvements of the landlords
would make them better under any circumstances. As a
proof of this, he referred to the buildings in Lace-street,
Brick-street, and other places, more especially in the vici-
nity. of Vauxhall-road, and trusted the Town-Council
would ere long go to Parliament for powers to borrow half
a million of money for the purpose. (hear, hear.) This
would entail a tax of £2OOO on the inhabitants, but this
sum would be saved in the smaller amount required for
the public and other charities.

• The resolution was carried,
The Rev. G. DOVER moved thanks to the Committee,
which was ably seconded by JAS. PARKER, Esq. In the
Council everything that could be done had been done, and
his humble exertions should never be wanting in any
great cause such as the sanatory improvement of the town.
The motion was carried unanimously.
A voUl of thanks was then passed by,acclamation to the
Mayor, who, in reply, said that the Council woald do their
utmost to forward the objects of the association.
The meeting then separated.