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14
DEPUTATIONS.
During the year the Board have appointed Members
to attend several deputations and conferences called for the
discussion of different questions affecting the general wellbeing
of the Metropolis.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
The Board had under its consideration throughout the
year the Bill introduced into Parliament by the Government
for the better government of London, and on the 30th April
last the following Motion was carried by the Board:—
"That the Lewisham Board of Works has seen with satisfaction
the introduction into Parliament of the London Municipal
Bill, and that, inasmuch as the measure contains the principle of
Local Councils popularly elected, having entrusted to them the
management of local affairs, combined with a much more efficient
representation than hitherto of each District in the central and
controlling Council, the Board gives a hearty general approval to
the Bill, but trusts the main duties of the District Councils will be
stated in the Bill itself, and that entire control over their officers
be vested in them as heretofore."
This Bill was, however, subsequently withdrawn.
PARLIAMENTARY BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM.
The Board gave great consideration to the proposal by
the Government to constitute a Parliamentary Borough of
Lewisham, under the Redistribution of Seats Bill. This Bill
proposed that such Parliamentary Borough should consist of
the whole of the District of the Lewisham Board of Works,
with the Parish of Lee added thereto, but subsequently the
Hamlet of Penge made strong efforts to be separated from
the Borough of Lewisham and placed in Camberwell, on the
ground that the Borough of Lewisham was in Kent, and the
Hamlet was in Surrey, and as the population of the proposed
Borough was much above the average, amounting to 84,000,
such efforts were ultimately successful, although this Board
felt bound to oppose them. This Board also endeavoured to
obtain the Reekcnham Sewerage Area to be included in the