View report page

12
should have no representative at such Board other than
one jointly with the Plumstead Board, under which
arrangement a member of the Plumstead Board had been
elected for many years past, and failing redress from the
Metropolitan Board of Works, Mr. Hughes, the Representative
of the joint Boards of Plumstead and Lewisham, proposed
to prepare a short Bill with the object of giving
separate representation to this Board and the Plumstead
Board, and also giving increased representation to some of
the other Vestries and District Boards of London who had
applied for the same. This course was adopted, and ultimately
Viscount Lewisham, M.P., took charge of the Bill,
which was read a first time on the 24th April, 1885, and
after such Bill had been largely amended in Committee, by
increasing the number of Vestries and District Boards who
were entitled to increased representation, and which amendments
were accepted by Viscount Lewisham, the Bill was
duly passed by the Houses of Parliament on the 6th July,
and received the Royal Assent on the 31st July, 1885.
Under its provisions, this Board was entitled to elect a
separate Member to represent them at the Metropolitan
Board, and on the 23rd September last, Mr. Theo. W.
Williams, the then Chairman of the Meetings of the Board,
was elected its first Representative at the Metropolitan Board
of Works.
THE UNEMPLOYED.
During the past winter this Board, as well as other public
authorities in London, was much exercised by the necessity of
taking some steps for the relief of the unemployed workmen
in the District. With this object they determined to expedite
certain works which they had in view, and thus afford immediate
work, and instead of following their usual custom of
having all new streets formed and made by Contractors, in
which case the labour is generally brought by such contractor
into the District from a distance, they determined to make
such roads under their own immediate supervision, and employ