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"inclinations would lean to the allotment of functions to
"the local bodies, and we believe that in cases where
"uniformity of action is necessary this may often be best
"secured by giving to the Corporation the authority to
"frame bye-laws, which should be locally administered,
"with provision, however, for the intervention of the
"Corporation to secure their enforcement should they be
"neglected."
The Commissioners suggest that the powers of Vestries
and District Boards should be extended so as to embrace
the functions of providing burial grounds, public libraries,
baths and wash-houses, the registration of births, &c., and
the enforcement of the vaccination acts. It would be in
accordance with this view that the duties of District
Surveyor should be transferred to the local authority,
as has been frequently suggested by this Board. The Commissioners
think that the administration of the "Weights
and Measures Act, the Food and Drugs Acts, and the
Petroleum and Explosives Acts should be in the hands of
the central authority, and they suggest that some
machinery should be provided for the re-partition of
functions between the central and local authority, as
experience may prove desirable, without having recourse
to Parliament in each particular case. The Commissioners
suggest that the number of members of the respective
local authorities should be 72, and that such authorities
should be called Councils and elect Mayors of their respective
districts. It is also suggested that the member
of the central body elected for any district should be an
ex officio member of the local authority of the district.
With regard to the areas for local administration the Commissioners
express the opinion, "that while some of the
"existing areas are of a convenient and suitable size,
"others might, with advantage, be grouped even more
"than at present." The Commissioners further say: "In
"order to adopt universally the proposal that the members