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24
The Board requested the Members of Parliament for
this District to oppose the provisions of the London
County Council (General Powers) Bill, which would
enable the Council to incur an unlimited expenditure for
enquiries and negotiations relating to the supply of
water.
The London County Council (Tramways) Bill authorised
the Council to construct and work a tramway line
from the termination of the existing tramways on the south
side of Westminster Bridge over the bridge and along
the Victoria Embankment. The Board had previously
passed a resolution disapproving of the proposed purchase
by the Council of a portion of the tramways belonging
to the London Street Tramways Company, and of the
purchase of any other tramways by the Council, on the
ground that the carrying on of the business of a Tramways
Company by the Council would not be to the
public advantage. The Board decided to oppose the
Bill, but they were advised that they had no locus standi
in the matter and they could do nothing beyond communicating
their views to the Members of Parliament for the
District. The Bill was passed by the House of Commons,
but it has been thrown out by the Committee of the
House of Lords.
The Public Libraries Bill consolidates and amends the
existing law on this subject and it meets a difficulty which
the Board pointed out to the promoters of the Amendment
Act, 1890, might arise from one of the provisions
of that Act in the adoption of the Public Libraries Acts
by a parish similarly situated to the parish of Tooting in
this District. The Board therefore supported the Bill.
A Conference of Vestries and District Boards has
been held at the Westminster Town Hall with the view of
taking united action with regard the National Telephone
Bill and the New Telephone Bill, if necessary, for the
protection of the interests of the Local Authorities.