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parishes where the Company do not possess an Order enabling them
to supply electric energy. The Vestry at once determined to petition
against the measure, and it is satisfactory to know that it was thrown
but by the House of Commons on its Second Reading.
south metropolitan gas company's bill.
The object of this Bill was to empower the Company to make
3ertain alterations in the standard scale of charges for gas supply
upon a sliding scale, the price being decreased in proportion to the
reduction of the candle power supplied. The Bill also proposed to
empower the Company to purchase so much of the undertaking of the
Gas Light and Coke Company as lies to the south of the river Thames.
The Vestry determined to petition against the Bill and appointed
delegates to attend a Conference at Camberwell on the 26th February,
1900, to discuss its provisions. After hearing the expressions of
opinion given at the Conference, the Vestry determined to be represented
before the Committee on the Bill by independent counsel.
It is understood that the chief object of the Company in promoting
the measure is to enable them to supply gas of a low illuminating
power, and at a cheap rate, leaving the consumer to go to
the expense of providing such special burners as he may desire, to
convert the gas into a strong illuminant. The Vestry, however,
contend that, owing to large numbers of the people in this locality being
of the poorer classes, the effect of the Bill will simply be to reduce the
quantity of light given without bestowing any corresponding advantage
upon the population generally.
It is hoped that some provision may be inserted in the Bill to
obviate this state of affairs.
On the recommendation of the Committee, the Vestry expressed
the following opinions on the undermentioned matters:
ground values.
In response to a circular letter from the Land Law Reform
Association, the Vestry adopted a petition in favour of the
rating of ground values.
secondary education.
After giving their careful attention to letters from the Technical
Education Board of the London County Council and the