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11
the Commercial Street extension about the beginning of June
and it will shortly be completed.
GENERAL PARLIAMENTARY PROPOSALS.
A number of Bills have been introduced—some by the Government,
but mostly by private members—which, if passed, would
have some bearing upon the duties and functions of the Metropolitan
Local Authorities. The most important, because most
likely to pass, are the Bills introduced by Mr. Ritchie, President
of the Local Government Board. The first, the Local Government
Electors Bill, provides for the making of an extra Register of
Voters for the purpose of electing County Councillors. This
Register is to include female occupiers, as well as male, where the
qualification would be the same, and some minor matters. This
Bill has passed, and the Act is now being put into force.
The Local Government Bill as it affects the Metropolis has for
its chief features, the abolition of the Metropolitan Board of Works,
and the transfer of the powers of that body, as well as some of the
functions of the Justices of the Peace, to a new body to be called
the County Council of London—London being the district now
under the control of the Metropolitan Board of Works. It also
proposes to transfer certain License duties to the new Councils as
part of its revenue. The Vestry has petitioned for certain amend_
ments to be made in this Bill, but it has at present made such
little progress through Committee, that it would be useless to
hazard any opinion (even supposing the Bill should pass) as to its
ultimate form.
The Bills introduced by private members comprise miscellaneous
subjects, such as Rating of Advertisement Hoardings, Dwelling
Houses Sanitary Inspection, Early Closing, Housing of the
Working Classes, London Coal and Wine Duties continuance,
School Board for London Elections, School Board Officers'
Pensions, Metropolis Local Government, Metropolitan Fire Brigade
Expenses, Parliamentary and Municipal Registration of Voters,
Parliamentary Election Expenses—charge to Ratepayers, Poor
Rates Equalisation, Vestrymen's Qualifications, &c. The