The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-12-09 00:00:00

FINANCE COMMITTFE.

The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK read the proceedings, resolu-
tions, and reports of the Finance Committee. h appeared,
that Mr. George Hall Lawrence had been _re-elected chair-
man, and Mi.. Richard Houghton deputy-chairman. The
leases were also read. After some remarks from Mr. HAR-
BORD upon a deviation which had been allowed from the
restrictions imposed on certain erections in Falkner-square,
the proceedings were confirmed.

'WATCH COMMITTEE.-INVESTIGATION BY THE PAID
OFFICERS' COMMITTEE.

The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK read the proceedings of the
Watch Committee. Mr. James Lawrence, it appeared, had
been re-elected chairman, and Mr. Procter deputy chairman.
Mr. JAMES LAWRENCE enquired how far the powers of
the Paid Officers' Committee extended, as regarded the
investigation into the duties and emoluments of the officers
under the Watch Committee. It seemed to be the opinion
of some parties, that the committee could not interfere with
those officers.

The TOWN-CLERK gave his opinion generally, that the
Paid Officers' Committee could not with its present powers
interfere with the Watch Committee, which formed a body,
of commissioners just as if they had been appointed by a
separate Act of Parliament. As the council, however,
had a financial power, they might instruct the committee to
investigate. . .

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said the intention was, when
the committee was formed, that they should take cog-
nizance of all the Paid Officers of the Corporation without
any exception, and so it was understood by the council;
but if the Watch Committee desired to have the investigation
in their own hands, perhaps, the council would not have any
objection.
Mr. HORNBY concurred with the Town-clerk that an in-
struction from the council would be necessary ; but he thought
as the Watch Committee had more powers than other
committees, it would be most proper for them to make the
inquiry.
Mr. EVANS thought the inquiry should be made by the
committee appointed by the council, and he thought every
gentleman connected with the Watch Committee should in-
vite the investigation of the Paid Officers' Committee.
Mr. THORNHILL said the Paid Officers' Committee could
not meddle with the duties of the Watch Committee, which
would be to interfere with the privileges specially conferred
upon them by law, and it would be useless for them to in-
quire into the financial department without consideration of
the duties. If a sub-committee of the Watch Committee
were to make the investigation and report, as was their in-
tention, it would be useless for the Paid Officers' Commit-
tee to do so likewise.

Mr. H. LAWRENCE said by the Municipal Act the duties
of the cointoittee must be confined to financial inquiry.
Without investigation by the committee, how was the coun-
cil to know whether the officers were paid properly or not?
The only point necessary to ascertain new was, whether or
not it were the wish of the council that the Paid Officers'
Committee should undertake the investigation as regarded
the department under the Watch Committee.
After some discussion, in the course of which Mr. JAMES
LAWRENCE and Mr. THORN ruLL both said that they wished
the investigation to be made by the Paid Officers' Commit-
tee: it was understood that the council desired that the in-
quiry should be made by that committee, and the subject
dropped.