View report page

119
Only once during the past year has the subject of
the London Government Bill come under the notice
of the Vestry. This was upon a motion "That this
Vestry having considered the clauses of the London
Government Bill, 1884, is of opinion that no efficient
reform of the Municipal Government of the Metropolis
can be accomplished unless due provision is
made for the administration of the several Municipal
Districts by duly-elected councils, whose duties shall
be defined by the Legislature (in a much larger spirit
than is disclosed by the clauses relating to District
Councils in the present Bill), and acting in connection
with a Federal Corporation having jurisdiction
over all matters common to the whole Metropolis,"
and an amendment, "That this Vestry having considered
the Bill, is of opinion that no scheme for the
self-government of the Metropolis can be satisfactory
which deprives the ratepayers of each district, of
that direct control over the levying and expenditure
of rates, at present exercised by them through their
local representatives; and that the Vestry do oppose
the Bill." After a protracted debate, the discussion
was adjourned, at a late hour, from April 30th to
May 5th, and again to May 9th. Both motion and
amendment were then negatived, and the following
was carried as a substantive motion: "That the
Vestry of Camberwell views with satisfaction the introduction
of a Bill, 'For the better Government of
London, and other purposes connected therewith,'
but would recommend that the number and duties of
the District Councils should be defined, and those
sections modified which seek to adopt the whole of
the present members of the Metropolitan Board,
as members of the first Council, without election."
London Government
Bill.