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63
have found considerable difficulty in interpreting and reconciling
the provisions of section 11 and the sub-sections thereof in the Local
Government Act. Sub-section 1 casts upon the County Council
the duty of wholly maintaining the existing main roads, while subsection
2 provides that in case a local authority shall claim to retain
the powers and duties of maintaining and repairing the roads within
its district, it shall thereupon be entitled to retain the same, and
the Council shall make an annual payment towards the cost of the
maintenance and repair, and sub-section 4 gives the Council power
to require a local anthority to retain the management of a road in
consideration of an annual payment by the Council for the cost of
the undertaking. Your Committee have taken the opinion of
Counsel upon the question of the meaning of the words "towards"
and "for" as used in these sub-sections, but have not been able to
arrive at any definite conclusion upon it.
Upon a review of all the circumstances your Committee are of
opinion that the provisions in the Local Government Act and the
Highways and Locomotives Act, with reference to main roads, are
totally inapplicable to the thoroughfares in the County of London,
having regard to the peculiar conditions under which they are
managed, and the number of authorities concerned in such management.
Your Committee therefore recommend:—
"That the Government be requested to take the necessary
measures for the amendment of the Local Government Act by
exempting the County of London from the operation of sections
11 and 41 (4) of the Act; and that the President of the Local
Government Board be requested to receive a Deputation from
the Council on the subject."
The Vestry at the close of the year were considering
what action they should take in the matter.
London Subways and Overhead Wires Bill.—
A letter was received from the London County
Council, forwarding copy of their London Subways
and Overhead Wires Bill, to empower them to
make subways under streets, and to provide for the
use of such subways, and for the control and
regulation of overhead wires.
A letter was subsequently received from the
Vestry of St. Mary Abbotts, Kensington, suggesting
the desirability of concerted action in taking
steps to prevent the Bill becoming law in its present
form, as in their opinion the powers sought to be
obtained by the London County Council should be
vested in the Local Authorities.