View report page

60
London Government.—The Vestry, in response
to a letter from the Vestry Clerk of Westminster,
inviting support to a memorial to the Government,
praying for the introduction of a Bill in the ensuing
session to improve the status of the local governing
bodies of the Metropolis, and a further letter, stating
that the Prime Minister has consented to receive a
deputation, agreed to support the memorial, and
appointed representatives on the deputation.
The report of the Representatives, Messrs A.
Millward, J.P., and J. Johnson, is as follows:—
The Deputation was introduced by Mr. Wheeler, Q.C.,
ex-Chairman Kensington Vestry; the Petition was presented by
Mr. C. Spencer Smith, J.P., Chairman of Westminster Vestry,
and supported by Sir Henry Harben, J.P., Chairman of Hampstead
Vestry; Mr. Preston, J.P., Chairman of Camberwell
Vestry; Mr. Loftus, J,P., Chairman Mile-End Vestry; and
Mr. W. H. Mills, Vice-Chairman Paddington Vestry. The Duke
o Devonshire, in replying, dealt with the re-adjustment of
powers which would become necessary, and which would of
course reserve to the London County Council all central duties.
He pointed out certain difficulties, but said there were many
ways in which the whole matter might be dealt with. First, a
Bill might be introduced which would resolutely refuse to raise
the question of the transference of powers, and might satisfy
itself with recognising the importance of the municipal duties
already devolving upon existing bodies, leaving the question of
the re-adjustment of powers to be dealt with hereafter. Second,
it might provide for the transference of certain powers to all
existing Local Authorities, irrespective of their status, on the
lines and suggestions made by the Conference of Local Bodies
with the London County Council. Third, the Bill might contain
two schedules, one comprising a list of powers to be generally
transferred, and the second containing a list of further powers
which might, either by consent or otherwise, be transferred to
the Local Authorities which acquired the dignity of Municipal
Corporations. Lord Salisbury also spoke, concurring in these
views, and resented the "interpretations and glosses" which
had been put upon his speech at the Albert Hall. He also
alluded to another mistake which had been made, by the supposition
that municipalities involved the disturbance of the
Equalisation of Bates, pointing out that the Poor Law is not