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Local Authorities in London should be empowered to make
bye-laws for regulating the standing of costermongers in
streets.
8. Agricultural Rating Bill. The object of this Bill was to relieve
the agricultural districts from Local Taxation by providing
that occupiers of agricultural land in England should be liable
in the case of rates, the proceeds of which are applicable to
public local purposes, to pay half only of the rate in the pound
payable in respect of buildings, &c.; any deficiency arising from
the exemption being provided out of the Local Taxation
account. The funds of this latter account are raised chiefly
in the large cities and commercial centres of the kingdom, and
it was shown that London would suffer very heavily by the
operation of the measure. The Yestry in common with many
other Authorities throughout the city, viewed the consequent
increase in rating with some alarm and determined to present
a petition against the Bill.
9. Cab Radius. A resolution was adopted to the effect that the
time has now arrived for the present cab radius to be extended
to 5 miles, or, if possible, to the whole radius of the County of
London.
Vestry Hall. Owing to the old stuffed bench seats of the Yestry Hall
having become exceedingly dilapidated, the Vestry gave directions
for the sale of the seats, and determined that chairs should be
substituted therefor. Tenders for Chairs were obtained, and that of
Messrs. Tarn & Co. for fifty oak chairs at the price of '22s. 6d. each
was accepted.
About the same time the ceiling of the Vestry Hall was washed,
stopped and whitened, the upper portions of the walls distempered
and stencilled, and the lower portions cleaned and varnished.
Trees. Messrs. Ponsford's contract for providing and
ing the trees in the highways of the Parish being about to expire,
the Vestry determined on the 8th September, 1896, to carry out the
work by their own workmen, under the supervision of the Surveyor.