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79
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF LONDON
This subject has continued to engage the attention of the
Vestry
Upon the invitation of the Westminster District Board of
Works, the Vestry appointed representatives to attend a
Conference at Westminster Town Hall, which was convened
for the purpose of considering the desirability of memorializing
Her Majesty's Government to cause enquiry to be made by a
Royal Commission into the whole question of the Local
Government of the Metropolis
The Conference was held on the 19th October, Mr J K
Aston presiding, and the majority of the Vestries and District
Boards in the Metropolis being represented A memorial to
the Government in favour of an enquiry as a preliminary
measure to legislation was adopted The Vestry fully concur
in the desirability of some such enquiry, for they believe that
this would lead to a better appreciation of the value of the
work performed by the various local authorities since the
passing of the Metropolis Local Management Act in 1885, and
at the same time show in what respects the system of local
government in the Metropolis needs reform The introduction
of the changes under the Act of 1855 was preceded by
an enquiry by a Royal Commission in 1853, and in view ot
the mass of legislation affecting the Metropolis which has
been added to the Statute Book in the meantime, aud the
alterations which the Metropolis has in so many respects
undergone, a similar enquiry at the present time could not
but be attended by advantage It is, perhaps, needless to
remark that the evidence taken by the Royal Commission of
1853 is scarcely applicable to existing circumstances
Three members of the Vestry have been appointed to join
a deputation to the Home Secretary in support of this
memorial
In the month of November the Vestry received from the
Corporation of the City of London, a copy of a scheme which