As ordinance and convention had been established in the towns in Kyoto before the Edo period, which ranged too wide for police sergeants and constables to comprehend, it became also an important duty for Machidai to answer the questions from the police sergeants and constables based on the precedents--As such, Machidai became authorized to act as a proxy in execution of secretarial works necessary for facilitating the duties and operations of the Kyoto city magistrates' office, thereby contributed to keep organization of the city magistrates' office.
更に京都の町は江戸幕府以前からの様々な法令・慣習などが定められており、奉行所の与力・同心がこれらを把握する事が困難となっていたために、彼らからの諮問を受けた町代が先例などに基づいて回答を行う事も町代の重要な職務となるなど、奉行所の職務・運営を円滑化に必要な事務業務の代行が町代に委任されるようになって、町奉行の組織維持のための一端を担うようになっていった。