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addressed communications to the then President of the Local
Government Board (Mr. Fowler), the Vestries and District
Boards of the Metropolis, and subsequently to Lord Wemyss,
and the Hon. W. F. D. Smith, M.P., pointing out that not only
would the subject of the amendment be more appropriately
dealt with in the promised measure for the establishment of
District Councils in London than in the Bill in question, but
that legislation at the present time affecting the qualification
and mode of election of Vestrymen, would probably lead
to a comprehensive dealing with the question of Local
Government, and the consolidation of local bodies in London,
being indefinitely deferred. The provisions of the Act
which affect London relate to the qualification of the
electors and of the persons to be elected, and to the mode
of conducting the election, and are very far reaching in
their effect upon the present London Vestries and District
Boards. The application of parts of the Act to London
necessitate a number of cross references to various sections,
and in addition, several sections of other Acts of Parliament
are incorporated, thereby making the actual effect of the
Act as regards London somewhat confusing. There are
besides, two or three apparent anomalies in the Act, which
would probably not have arisen had the London clauses
formed the subject of a separate measure, and had mor
time been given for their consideration.
The following extracts from a Report made to the Vestry
by the Vestry Clerk, show how the Act affects the present
constitution and election of Vestries.
Qualification of Electors.
Up to the present time tho electors have been those persons
who have been rated for twelve months, and were rated occupiers
at the time of the election. In future, according to section 31
and sections 23 (3) and 2 (1), which are applied by the former