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authorities in London to purchase compulsorily, under
the provisions of the Lands Clauses Acts, land for the
erection thereon of public buildings. The Board were
of opinion that the powers contained in the Bill would
be very useful, as difficulty is often experienced in
obtaining a suitable site for public buildings owing to
the prohibitory price asked by the owners and to the
objection of owners to part with their property for such
purposes.
Adulteration of
Food, &c.
One of the chief objects of the Bill for
the amendment of the Sale of Food, &c., Acts was to
bring the wholesale dealer within the provisions of the
Acts. The Board were of opinion that the Bill would
not effect this object, but that on the contrary it would
hinder the local authorities in carrying out the Acts.
They therefore petitioned against the Bill, and suggested
that the object would be best met by repealing the section of
the existing Act which relates to a warranty, and substituting
therefor a provision whereby the retail dealer
charged with an offence under the Acts should be entitled
to have brought before the Court the person from whom
he purchased the article, and that upon proof that the
article was sold in the same state in which it was received
such person should be liable to be convicted of the offence.
The Bill was withdrawn, and a Select Committee of the
House of Commons appointed to inquire into the whole
subject of the working of the Acts. A conference of
Delegates of Vestries and District Boards has since been
convened by the Vestry of St. George, Hanover Square, to
consider the subject, at which a resolution, introduced by
this Board's delegates, to the effect of the foregoing
suggestion, was agreed to. Some other resolutions, with
the object of facilitating the administration of the Acts,
were also passed, and the views of the conference ordered
to be placed before the Parliamentary Committee.