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60
had been prepared by a Special Committee of the Court of
Common Council, for the Municipal Government of London,
with a request that the Vestry would express their opinion
thereon
Under the scheme of the Corporation Committee it was
proposed to create Ten Municipalities for the Metropolis,
corresponding in area with the parliamentary boroughs as they
existed prior to the Redistribution of Seats Act in 1885, with
one central organization composed of representatives from
each Municipality In order to meet expenses not properly
chargeable upon the Borough Kate, a sum of <£4,000 per
annum would bo paid out of the City cash to each of the
Corporations
These proposals did not appear to be in accord with the
resolution passed by the Vestry with regard to the London
Government Bill, on the 14th May, 1884, consequently the
Vestry did not feel able to endorse the principles of the scheme
On the contrary, a resolution was passed re-affirming the
opinion of the Vestry that it is desirable to extend Municipal
Government to the Metropolis at large by a measure that
shall embrace the duties, powers and privileges of the City
Corporation and the Metropolitan Board of Works, and that
in any such Scheme provision shall be made for simplifying
and unifying the system of local management in the various
districts of London by the abolition of obsolete, conflicting,
and overlapping bodies, and for the administration of all local
affairs on the same lines throughout the Metropolis by one
elected local authority in each unit of administration, such
authorities to possess precisely similar functions and powers,
and to have the initiative in all such local matters as fall
within the defined scope of their operations
The subject of the local management of the Metropolis is
far more complex than many people imagine In order to
effect genuine reform in the Local Government of Loudon it
appears necessary to keep in view two distinct aims, viz:—
The creation of one strong representative body to deal with