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111
REPORT ON DISTRICT COUNCILS.
Your Committee feeling assured that the experience
which the Members of the Vestry have acquired in administering
the affairs of a great Parish like Camberwell,
has predisposed them in favour of a large area, and an
extensive jurisdiction, bring up a scheme based on the
assumption that Camberwell will be under the management
and control of but one District Council.
Your Committee felt that the District Council when
appointed, should be entrusted with all that is fairly comprised
within the term "Local Government"; that the
inhabitants of the district should be fully and adequately
represented on the Council; and that to such inhabitants
should be secured frequent opportunities of expressing their
opinions upon the action of their representatives.
Your Committee, having regard to the special work
for which the new council is designed, consider that it
should not retain any portion of the semi-ecclesiastical
business which was transferred to the Vestry by the
Metropolis Management Act, 1855, and the amending Acts.
The election of Churchwardens is therefore not included in
the duties to be conferred on the District Council, neither is
it proposed that the Vicar or Churchwardens should be exofficio
members of such Council.
Your Committee have taken into consideration the
powers and duties at present vested in County Councils, in
Municipal Corporations and in the existing Vestries and
District Boards, in order to see how far the District Council
should be clothed with like powers. Your Committee