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Authority for larger and Metropolitan affairs. The Vestry of this
Parish passed a resolution as follows:—
"That this Vestry, whilst admitting the desirability of extending
Municipal Government to the Metropolis at large, by a measure that
shall embrace the duties, powers, and privileges of the City Corporation
and the Metropolitan Board of Works, is of opinion that no system of
Metropolitan Government will be satisfactory which does not provide
for the administration of purely Local affairs by duly elected Local
Councils; and that any system which ignores this principle must resolve
itself into one of Centralization and Government by Paid Officials."
This was forwarded to all the Metropolitan Vestries in
Schedule A, and to the District Boards, and by many of these
bodies was responded to in terms of approval, with promises of
support in any effort which might be made towards the maintenance
of the prinoiple embodied in the resolution. There is every
probability that unless some unforeseen events should prevent it, the
Government will, next Session, redeem its promise and introduce
the measure. It must, if it should have any general scope, affect a
variety of interests, and call forth much criticism and probably
much opposition. It will doubtless be referred to a select Committee.
When, however, it is remembered that so small a measure of local
reform as the patching up of the Artizans and Laborer's Dwellings
Act has occupied a Select Committee two Sessions, and has produced
no result of any practical value, it can hardly be expected that a
measure involving great and organic changes, as well as containing
a large amount of detail, will in one Session make any progress
beyond the Select Committee stage. It will be for the Vestries
and local authorities generally, when the nature of the Government
scheme becomes known, to take prompt and energetic steps to
protect local rights and interests from being absorbed by a central
and practically irresponsible Municipal Authority.
Regent's Canal Railway.
The most important Private Bill introduced this Session
affecting this Parish is the Regent's Canal City and Docks Railway
Bill. The object of this Bill is to obtain power to construct a
railway for the most part by the side of the present Regent's Canal,