The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-09 00:00:00

The Local Government of the Metropolis,

Yesterday the Right Hon. S. H. Walpole received
a deputation from the Metropolitan Municipal As-
sociation for promoting the better local government
of the metropolis. Among those constituting the
deputation, which was unusually large, were Lord
Ebury, president of the association, the Hon. A.
Kinnaird, M.P., Mr. T. Hughes, M.P., Mr. C. Bux-
ton, M.P., Mr. 1). J. Bearden, M.P., Sir J. Lub-
bock, the Hon. F. Byng, Dr. Farr, Mr. Jas. Beal,
Mr. P. Graham, Mr. G. Godwin, F.R.S., and Mr.
J. C. Buckmaster, hon. secretary.

Lord Enijay, in introducing the deputation, said
that it was composed of men of every shade of poli-
tical opinion, and comprised pntlernen from every
district of London. They had resolved themselves
into an association for the purpose of concentrating
their strength with a view to obtain some improve-
ment in the government of the metropolis. His lord-
ship then gave a sketch of the history of metropoli-
tan legislation during the last 20 years, and said
that when Lord Llanover introduced the Metropoli-
tan Local Bill it was found that there were then
100 acts of Parliament in existence which bore on
the sanitary arrangements of London. The Metro-
politan Local Bill passed into law, and the present
board, formed under it; had shown the advantages of
the concentration of power. The act of which he
was speaking was never intended to be a final mea-
sure, and it was now found that there were several
evils existing and urgentlydemanding reform. These
impeded the good government of London, which
was far inferior to many provincial towns, and cer-
tainly far inferior to the city of Paris, in its agencies
of local administration. The numerous deputation he
had the honour to introduce was a strong demon-
stration of the conviction of men of all shades of
political opinion regarding the question of our mu-
nicipal government.

Mr. BJCKMASTER, hon. secretary, said that a large
number of gentlemen, members of vestries
considering that the present government and
of er
Londonh s,
was in a disgraceful condition, had projected the
ot
for the necessary
ber of
re-
forms. It was intended to abolish a number AnlpunaincdipaaldAopsstoecdiatpiroonv,idainngd abill had been drawn
small local jurisdictions and to establish ten muni-
calli,Pillaeyl
having
muni-
cipalities, eos saesvehneanrolrythasapnodsstliihreleestohuotshanoifotphoepTulliaatmioens:
uld have greater power than the adminis-
trative bodies at present existing, and, from the
extent of the districts over which they had autho-
rity, there would be less expense in their adminis-
trative action. The conflicting interests of about
100 different committees would be reconciled, and
the requirements of the public fulfilled with greater
care and promptitude than now. At present there
were in the metropolis about 40 vestries, and 4,000
persons engaged in our local government, and it was
proposed to reduce that number to 400 aldermen
and council under the projected plan. Delay was
of all things to be avoided. The principle upon
which the association sought the support of Go-
vernment had been admitted over and over again
by committees of the House of Commons. He
might add that there was to be no interference with
the boundaries of parishes. Delay would necessi-
tate the existence of the association for several
years, and that should be avoided, as it had been
established for prompt and speedy action.
In answer to Mr. WALPOLE, who asked what
were to be the powers of the ten municipalities of
which the establishment was contemplated by the
bill, and also whether they were to have jurisdiction
over the Metropolitan Board,
Mr. JAMES BEAL said that the powers of the
municipalities were to be those conferred by the
gM
jrn.diglresa LarnodLE
Municipal Reform Act.
policeinquired
an(i f
ma
nt ha
ge pn
theirg e r o foawphp ogi tai
gaol
was considered in the scheme.
Mr. BEAL said he could not see how these could
be made exceptions. Vestries were no longer to
have any power except for ecclesiastical purposes.
The jurisdiction of magistrates and of police was
to be conterminous. The present bill was to be
supplemented by another for establishing a central
controlling body. In 1854 Sir George Lewis had
recommended that several municipalities should
erected ; committees of the House of Commons had
approved the plan in 1861 and 1866, so that there
was nothing novel in the suggstions of the associa-
tion. Inquiry had gone far enough, and it now
remained to found public legislation on the evidence
ques-
tionsw hiwhich
hfrom e
cityA i r .
slhVoaullpdo Ihee,
treatedre gardi ung
which had been collected. In reply to further
ndtehre
tnhaeanpnreorjeoint,
e dr a that h
bollat it would
p ro
Mr. Beal said that it was contemplated to take
be awayun
dceoru
thenty powersjurisdi
of from theof
thecit ye,
posed to be established hereafter. This central
council would have control over the main drainage,
gas and water would be
the management of bridges, gaols, lunatic asylums,
and also extensive powers of improvement. Under
the scheme the metropolis would be made a county,
great many of
the existing evils arose from the utter helplessness
of the citizens to cope with the powerful joint-stock
companies. The question of our gas supply had
considered idered questionsby relating
the cent central body. A
intelli that under
of
been brought before the public, but if they had been
was
gent
in Liverpool or Manchester they could remedy the
complained of shortcomings themselves. Another
era
worthy
better
ofer
and
in
attentionor
men would be induced to become active age class
nts in
cthoonshidewsytisotnema h
II
sanitary reform, on account of the more dignified
character given to our municipal institutions.
Mr. GOD WIN, F.R.S., said that our local govern-
ment was disgraceful to our civilisation. To take one
instance, the present state of Bethnal-green was a
blot on our system of legislation. Medical officers
elected by members of vestries were afraid to speak
the truth, and had to do good by stealth. Estimat-
ing it at no extravagant rate, the deplorable manner
in which our thoroughfares were managed cost the
metropolis about £500,000 a year. Many who were
well acquainted with the working of provincial mu-
nicipalities had often spoken of the lamentable con-
dition of the local administration of London.
Mr. T. Hughes, M.P., Mr. Rearden, M.P., the
Hon. F. Byng, Mr. Beggs, and others, took part in
a conversation which followed, in which, among
other things, it was stated that every gas lamp in
London costs the inhabitants five guineas, while in
Manchester they are supplied at a rate of 255. apiece.
Mr. WALPOLE said he agreed with the statement
that the local government of the metropolis could be
improved. He hoped, however, that the deputation
would not demand any definite pledge from himself,
but he promised that he would take care to bring
the question before his colleagues, and that it would
have his own most careful consideration.
Mr. HUGHES, nil., on the part of the members
of the Metropolitan Municipal Association, thanked
the Home Secretary for his courtesy, and the depu-
tation then withdrew.

miTnshtoerdvelaelgaactese
Hfortoeml, the British North American
Provinces, in session for several weeks at the West-
succeedin
revising the Quebec schtnedsoon'ashtaovse ece
a u
mous vote of all the provinces represented—that is
secure
ni enda
to say, Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia,
and New Brunswick. The resolutions passed at
Quebec in their revised form have been forwarded
to Earl Carnarvon for consideration. All the
knotty points and difficulties which presented
themselves, so far as colonial interests are con-
cerned, have been successfully combated. Provision
is made for enabling the colonies of Prince Edward
Island, Newfoundland, the North-West Territory,
and British Columbia to enter the Confederation
on equitable terms hereafter. A draught bill based
on these resolutions, it is expected, will be prepared
and submitted to Parliament early in the ensuing
session. The Conference is composed as follows :
—Canada.—The Hon. Messrs. J. A. M'Donald
(chairman), G. E. Cartier:Howland, Langevin,
M‘Dougall, and Galt. Nova Scotia.—The Hon.
Messrs. C. Tupper, W. A. Henry, J. W. Ritchie,
J. M,Cully, and A. G. Archibald. New Bruns-
wick.—Messrs. S. L. Tilley, P. Mitchell, C. Fisher,
D. Wilmot, and J. W. Johnson.
According to an agricultural document just issued
there were in the year 1866 in the United Kingdom
a stock of cattle in number 8,716,276, and of sheep
26,373,993.