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industry, at present affording employment to a large
number of poor people in the Metropolis, but the Metropolitan
Board of Works withdrew tin Bill before that
course was adopted.
Hampstead Heath Enlargement Bill, 1886.—This Bill
provided for the acquisition by the Metropolitan Board of
Works, of Parliament Hill, Parliament Fields, the Elms
Estate, and the East Park Estate, and their addition to
Hampstead Heath, to be preserved as an open space, and
with this view proposed to empower the City Corporation,
the Vestries and District Boards, the Charity Commissioners,
and the Trustees of the London Parochial Charities, to
make a contribution towards the purchase money for the
Estates.
While quite agreeing with the object of the Bill, the
Yestry could not undertake to make any contribution
towards the expenses of carrying out the Act.
Smoke Nuisance Abatement (Metropolis) Bill.—This
Bill, introduced into the House of Lords by Lord Stratheden
and Campbell, proposed to confer upon the Vestries and
District Boards of the Metropolis the power of making byelaws
for prohibiting or regulating the emission of smoke
from any building within their respective districts, which
bye-laws are subject to confirmation by a Secretary of
State. A large discretion is left to the local authorities in
framing their bye-laws. Thus they may exempt properties
below a certain rateable value, or prescribe the hours of
the day in which smoke emission shall be unlawful, or may
make any other restrictions or provisions they may deem
expedient, and may provide for penalties in respect of first
and continued offences, and the local authorities are to be
the sole agents for carrying out the Act.