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26
of the Metropolis, but within the area over which the
Dues are levied.
From 1869, under the Metropolitan Board of Works
Loans Act of that year, the proceeds of the Dues ceased to
be allocated to specific purposes, and have formed part of
the Board's annual revenue. At the present time the
Board's share of the proceeds is about ,£325,000 a year,
and if the Dues are allowed to cease in 1889 the deficiency
will have to be made good by a proportionate increase in
the Metropolitan Consolidated Bate, estimated at 2½d. in
the pound.
In view of this contingency, the Metropolitan Board has,
since 1872, made repeated applications to successive
Governments, but has always met with discouragement,,
A request was made in October, 1886, to Lord Randolph
Churchill, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, by means of
a Deputation from the Board and the City Corporation,
but he returned an unfavourable answer to the deputation.
He, however, intimated that a preponderant expression of
opinion on the part of the inhabitants of the Metropolis
might induce the Government to alter its decision. A
letter was then addressed by the Metropolitan Board of
Works, to the Vestries and District Board, asking for their
active co-operation in making such opinion known to the
Government. A very large proportion of the Vestries
and District Boards expressed themselves in favour of the
continuance.
The Metropolitan Board of Works introduced a Bill
into Parliament for the renewal of the Duties, which was
read a first time on the 28th January, in favor of which
the majority of the Local Authorities of the Metropolis
petitioned. The Bill, however, made no progress, and was
eventually dropped.