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It was further decided to forward a copy of this resolution
to the Home Secretary, with some remarks
upon it to be drawn by a Committee consisting of
the following members:—Messrs. Mulley, Squire,
Strong, Ballantine, Honywill, Wallace, and Middlemass.
Messrs. Teather, Simmons, Middlemass,
Wesson, and Turney were also appointed as delegates
to a conference on the subject, convened by the
Metropolitan Board of Works, and consisting of
representatives of the local authorities cf the metropolis.
At this conference, a resolution was carried
expressive of the opinion that the Bill, if carried out,
would be prejudicial to the continued existence of
local self-government.
The Vestry may be reminded that the Bill was introduced
into the House of Commons, by the Secretary
of State for the Home Department, and read a
first time on Wednesday April 8th. The motion for
the second reading was not made until Thursday
July 3rd, a date too late for it to be possible to carry
the Bill through to a successful issue in that session
of Parliament. Mr. Ritchie, one of the representatives
of the Tower Hamlets, moved an adverse
amendment, and a debate took place on the following
Friday and Tuesday. On the last-mentioned
day, the Government successfully resisted a motion
for adjournment, and treating the result of the
division as an expression of opinion favourable to
the principle of the measure before the House
subsequently consented to the adjournment of the
debate, and two days afterwards, withdrew the Bill.
Redistribution
of Seats Act.
During the session of this year, Her Majesty's
Government introduced into Parliament a Bill