The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-26 00:00:00

vernment would give every assistance to the proper
auth, rities, and would du what they could to substitute
a mere perfect machinery, endowed with mere ample
powers of puriicetion of the Thames.
Mr. BRADY slid he had known the Thames for
thirty years. but bad never known it so offensive as at
present. Unless something were done, a second plague
of London might be expected. He thought the house
was responEible for any calamities which might arise.
Ile trusted that the mater would be considered in a
manner which would show to ,the people of Landon
that their lives were cared for. He knew families were
flying from London ; and when he had riildan over
W(sttninster-bridge he `ound that many persons, as
they approached the bridge, put handkerchiefs to their
noses and used scent bottles.
Mr. BENTINCK must enter his protest against the
doctrine that had been laid down by the hon. member
for Guildford (NIT. Mangles.) He agre el it was a money
question, and ail he wanted was to protest against the
money being taken cut of the wrong pocket. First they
were asked for money for a park far the metropolis, and
next a bridge was constructed, and they were asked to
forego the security of the tols; and then, when there
came the question of the sewers, it was immediately
stated that this was an imperial question, and that the
whole country was bound to contribute. The inhabitants
of a town ought to pay for their own sewerage. It was
monstrous that the richest city in the world should al-
ways try to relieve itself of its just obligations. What
would be said if boo. members asked for public money
for the purposes of towns a hundred miles off ? If the
Thames were not purified, London would be deserted,
and the inhabitants would sustain a greater loss than by
paying for the sewer-.
Mr. AYRTON prot-sted against the imputation
which had been made that metropolitan members, in
deference to their constituents, asked for public money
for local purposes. The difficulty did not lie in the
demands cf the metropolis, but in the f ict that
the Illtropolis had always • been a bugbear in the
eyes of the Executive Government, and bad been
refte=ed municipal privileges, but municipal intelligence
should go far to counteract the want of intelligence on
the part of the executive. (Laughter.) It was only
ten years since a whig prime minister had declared that
it would be impossible to grant municipal institutions to
the metropolis, because the population was so enormous.
It was aut three years since any approach to municipal
institutions had been given, and did they suppose that
the blunders of centuries were to be remedied in a mo-
ment ! Had the right hon. gentleman below him been
able to carry his measure in its integrity, practical
measures .would have been taken ere now, but the
municipal body had been counteracted by a commission,
and the result had been to cover the whole affair with
absurdity and ridicule. He should astound the house
by acquainting it with what this commission proposed
to do. It proposed to provide at once what might be
necessary forty years hence, thus quadrupling the ex-
panse, and not only to carry away the sewage of the
metropolis, but to make provision for ten times the
quantity, besides all the rainfall of the Burr moding dis-
trict'. If the matter was lift to the municipality they
would make the Thames, not certainly pure as a moun-
tain rivulet, but healthy and fit ftr all the purposes to
which it was at present applied. The only way to
remedy the.present state cf things would be to give the
metropolis municipal institutions the same as every
other town, and then it would deal with municipal ques-
tions with practical wisdom and sagacity.
Sir B. HALL wished to say a few words in conse-
quence of what bad fallen from the hon. member who
bad just spoken, who had, however, misrepresented the
case. As soon as the Metropolitan Board presented him
(Sir B. Hall) with a plan which bad an outfall, he put
it into the hands of three of the most eminent engineers
in England, and further, he asked them if they did not
approve of it, to suggest some other plan themselves.
They did propose a plan, which he sent to the Metro-
politan Board of Works, and the latter placed it in
the hands of their own engineer. All he had to re-
gret was that the Board of Works, when they re-
ceived the report of their own engineer, did not take
it in hand at once, but postponed its consideration until
October next. On one point he agreed with the hon.
member for the Tower Hamlets, and that was that the
metropolis was placed in a peculiar difficulty. In all other
towns in England in Europe there was a municipality
for the whole of the city; but the London municipality
extended over a very small area, and regulated the affairs
of but 129,000 out of two and a half millions of people.
(Hear, hear.) Other municipalities could levy money
for the improvement of the whole city; but in London
the power of levy ranged over a very small portion of the
metropolis, and was expended within a very small area.
This was a matter which required the consideration of
Parliament. (blear.) After what had passed on the pre-
vious day in that house respecting the Corporation Re-
form Bill, it was quite impossible it could pass during
the present session, and therefore there would be time
for its consideration. He should refrain from further
observation, because the Chief Commissioner of Works
bad indicated the wisest course, which was to put him-
self in communication with the Board of Works, and
see whether, in order that the main drainage should be
carried out, it would be necessary to alter the law.
Should he think it advisable to alter the law he (Sir B.
Hall) would advise him to look at the 141st section of
the bill, which the noble lore's party opposed, and
which he (Sir B. Hal.) way in consequence obliged to
withdraw. The object of that clause was to enable the
Treasury to advance money on the security of the rates,
and in consequence of its withdrawal it was impossible
to proceed with any works. Should there be any new
legislation be would strongly advise the re-insertion of
1 this clause. (Hear.) If any scheme, such as that put
forward by the hon. wernbsr f-r Bath, should be consi-
dered, a new bill would be necessary, because an outfall
was already fixed, not only outside the metropolis', but
was fixed so low down, in deference to the wishes of
the house, as to preclude the possibility of the waters
ever coming back. He ventured to throw out these sag,
gestioes in case the noble lord should have to re-intro--
duce the matter to Parliament.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER —My
noble friend the President of the Board of Works has dealt
with this question in so candid and clear a manner
that it is really unnecessary for me to touch it at any
length. An hon. gentleman, I think, has charged the
Government with the responsibility of this matter. It
is unnecessary for me to say that no legal responsibility
can devolve on the Government in respect to it ; but I
admit that a moral responsibility lies upon us to do all
is our power to prevent public disaster, and I am sure
no set of men in our position would for a moment wish
to avoid that responsibility. For the last three or foul
days our earliest and constant attention has been given
to the Fut ject, and I trust the result ( f that attention
will be far the public advantage. The commissions and
committees on this question have, no doubt, in many
re-pects done their duty well, but the time has come
when it is absolutely necessary that action shonll corn-
raence. (Otters.) I very much agree with the Lon.
gentleman the niernher for the Tower Ilan lets iu the
observation which he wade as to the greet delay that
had taken place in the establishment of what I may eall
this new Beard in this great metropolis. But, a though
there is a greet deal of truth in his observatio.i.s, it it
also impossible to deny that what has occurred bas been
the natural cot. sec-pence of what probably cusldnot have
been prevented—the jealousy which always exists when
new institutions are rising by the side of ancient ones.
We must not forget all tha', and we must remember
that under the pressure and consciousness of the e cir-
cumstances Parliament a few years ago determined to
establish a great corporation—l mean the Metropolitan
Board, to which so much refsrence has been made. Bat,
although we have invee' ed it with great powers, unfer•
tunately this great corporation, which has to guard the
interests dial regukte tha management of probably a
hundred times more pe mle and property than are en-
trusted to the guardianship of the c wporation of the city
ol London, has an unlimited power of rating, which has
been proved to be nothing bets r than a theoretical
idea. (Hear.) It cannot carry that power into effect.
(Hear, t ear.) It has '-xperienead is its local direct taxa-
tion the same obstacles which we (experience with regard
to imperial direct taxation. I, therefore, think that
the thee has come when, having thrown upon tsis cor-
poration so great a respon ibility, ws should consider
whether we ought not to furnish it with those means
which are adequate to the due fulfilment of its great
dutiee. (Elea-.) Now I believe that it is in a ant of
funds. It is to that fact, and not to any system of dou le I
government, as has been suggested, that the inefficiency
of the Metropolitan Board of Works is to be attributed.
I think that Parliament would act prudently in provid
ing that bedy with sufficient means for the adequate ful-
filment of its duties. In the present situation of affairs

there are two duties which h•er Majesty's Government
have to fulfil—one towards this house, and one, of
course, towards the population of this metropolis gene-
rail. 'With regard to their duty to this house, I eta.-
tainly am perfrctly prepared, on the part of her Majes-
ty's GJvernrsent, to say that there shall be no lack of
energy and no want of zeit! on our part to bring the busi-
ness of this house t) a cot elusion as soon as we can con-

sistent!y with our public duty. (hear.) ‘Ve shall not
hesitate to make a sacrifice of many measures—('auBh-
ter)—which, though important, may, if it should be ce-

cz; vary to make that eacrrhae, be regarded as of only
secondary importance. But I trust that the house will

respond to this desire on our part, and waist us as much
as possible—(cheer:)—by not entering upon unnecessary
discussion+. There are, however, certain measures which

. __ .. _.....
I think it, ii absolutely necessary should be carried, and
I trust that the house will assi,t ui in carrying them.
But it is not our rievire that they should not undergo
a(!equa'e discussion, for which opportunity will be given.
These measures I trust the house will, with all their

e iergy, aisiFt us in carrying. With regard to the com-
munity our respon.sibility will not cease with the tenni-
na.ion of the seesion ; and I can only again repeat that
there shall be on the part of her Majesty's Govern-
ment no want of energy in their endeavours to
make those arrangements which are adequate to
the occasion, or in the exercie.e of the powers
they possess for preserv;ng the pine healtb.
(Bear, Arid if we find it r.ecessary to appeal t.)
PA:limner t 'afore it is prorogued for powers to sarry
the necessary oper4tions into effect we will not ht Eitatu
to appeal to Paniament with confidence fir such powers.
(Clhcere.)

THE TENANT RIGHT QUESTION.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
before I sit down I hope I may be perrnittei to refer to
a qu stion. which was addressed to me on a subject of a
very different character, arid to which I should not feil
it necessary under those circumstances to reply ; but I
thought it might be deemed a want of courtesy if I were
to give no answer to the hon. gentleman. It appears that
the hon, gentleman, has discovered that a considerable
part of the.data on which ,his inquiry is founded is in-
a:curafe. think the house will feel that there is
nothing more inconvenient than to found an inquiry
upon aecowi haud infoxpiagouof a conversation which