The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-04-14 00:00:00

COMMISSIONERS OF WATCH MEETING.

On Friday last these commissioners met in their Board-room,
at the Parish-office, for the purpose of transacting public busi-
ness. On the subject of the half-yearly accounts, it appeared
that a sub-committee was some time ago appointed to prepare
the accounts for the half year ending 25th March, in a detailed
and explicit form, and to publish these accounts for the inspec-•
tion of the parishioners fourteen days prior to the annual meet--
ink, which takes place on Wednesday, the 29th instant. They
were submitted to the board, and 500 copies were ordered to be
printed for the use of the parishioners.
MR. WIIITTY'S SALARY.
Mr. WiLLIAMS brought forward a motion of which notice had
been given, for rendering permanent the present arrangements
for the management of the Fire Police. Mr. Williams said
that the establishment was now so well managed, compared
with its former state, that he thought the commissioners, before
►oing out .of office, should confirm the appointment of Mr.
Whitty, as superintendent; Mr. Whitty's salary way now 250
guineas, while that of Mr. Parlour was £4OO, and of Mr. Dow-
ling £5OO. Mr. Whitty's responsibility- was equal to their's,
and though he was not an advocate for over-paying any public
servant, he thought they ought to he sufficiently remunerated.
'The salary of the late superintendent was £l5O, besides a free
house and other emoluments, amounting in all to nearly £2OO.
Se proposed that a salary of £lOO should be appropriated to
Mr. Whitty, by which the parish would effect a saving of the
other £lOO, not. to mention the increased security of property.
Mr. JACKSON seconded the motion., and bore testimony to the
superior state of efficiency which the establishment now exhi-
bited.

Mr. SANTLEY acknowledged the efficiency of Mr. Whitty as
superintendent of the Fire Police, but objected to any increase-
of his salary, and he intimated his intention of attending at the
annual vestry meeting and proposing that the board should be
deprived of the power of granting salaries at all.
Mr. KEET said that with every confidence in Mr. Whitty's
ability, he must observe that there had been no large fires since
his appointment, by which his efficiency could be brought to the
lest; and he thought that if his appointment were tendered
permanent, a deputy should be appointed to assist him in super-
intending the watch.
The (MAN expressed a doubt whether, in the event of
large fires occurring, Mr. Whitty would be able to discharge
both situations with perfect satisfaction to himself and the
public. He would recommend the appointment therefore to be.
extended, as a further expeiituent, fur six Mouths longer; and
he was sure that if Mr. Whitty felt himself in any degree in-
competent to discharge the duties of both situations, he would
himself be the first to suggest the propriety of his resigning one
of them. With regard to the salary of £5OO, enjoyed by Mr.
,Dowling, he was very doubtful if that. sum would be continued
under a reformed corporation. Mr. Whitty, however, was well
entitled to whatever the board could do fur him, consistently
withtheir duty to the pudic.
Mr. H 'NOW,: bore testimony to Mr. Whitty's efficiency, and
had no doubt the otext board would- render his appointment per-
manent. The establishment hitherto had been a very expens►ve
one, and the utmost economy should be observed; at the same
time they could not impose additional duties on the superintend-
ent without a proper remuneration.
Mr. TAYLOR said that the addition of £loowas not too much.
Mr. Parlour had a salary of £4OO, and his emoluments amounted
to £4OO more. The establishment was now almost perfect, for
an engine and water cart could be got out of the yard within
four minutes after an alarm was given.
Mr. SANTLEY said the establishment altogether was highly
unpopular, and he was sure that the parish would not sanction
its continuance. The salary was excessive, as a fire might not
occur for a whole year, and Mr. Whitty would thus get £lOO
for nothing.
The CHAIRMAN.7-Then it will be the cheapest £lOO the parish
ever paid.—With regard to the popularity of the establishment,
he believed if the parish were pulled on the question, nine out
of every ten among the respectable householders, would vote
for its continuance.
Mr. WILLIAMS remarked that in Manchester, before a fire-
police was established, the average loss by fire was £50,000 pet
annum; it was now only £10,006.
Mr. Abraham, Mr. Jones, Mr. Rowlandson, Mr. Ross, and
Mr. Hartley, severally expressed themselves favourable to the
motion, which was then put and carried..