The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-27 00:00:00

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF TIIE METROPOLIS`.

The debate on this subject was resumed by lir.
Horner. It will be recollected that at the:netting
of the court last week, Mr. Deputy Fry r loved a
series of resolutions, which were in effect that in
order to secure to the ratepayers of the in 3tropolis
the light of self-government, recognising direct
representation, and consequently direct responsi-
bility, it was desirable that municipalities should be
established in the several metropolitan parliamen-
tary boroughs ; that inasmuch as the corporation
of London had existed for many centuries as a
distinct and independent municipality, its connec-
tion with the Metropolitan Board of Works was
unnecessary and inexpedient, and that it be: referred
to the Local Government and Taxation Colinmittee
to consider and report what steps should 13e taken,
with a view to assist in the introduction or munici-
palities in the metropolitan boroughs, and to relieve
the corporation from its connection with the Board
of Works. To these propositions Mr. Richardson
moved as an amendment, that it was uuadvisable.
to declare in favour of any plan of municipal go-
vernment until the co-operation of the corporation
shall have been sought by that portion of the me-
tropolis which may desire to change its present form
of local government. A long discussion ensued,
and the debate was eventually adjourned.
Mr. HoRNER, in resuming the debate, expressed
his opposition to a measure which, if supported,
must be attended with considerable expense.
(Hear, hear.) Unless that court was prepared to

furnish the money he believed the establishment of
municipalities would not be desired by the already
heavily-taxed ratepayers of the metropolis. He was
not inimical to the extension of municipalities, but
what he wanted was, those who desired them should
take the initiative. having called attention to a
circular in favour of Mr. Mill's two bills, which had
been distributed among some of the members of the
court, he expressed a hope that it would not in-
fluence their opinions, for if these bills were passed

into law it would be at the expense of the corpo-
ration. At present their revenues were in their
own hands, but how long they would remain so de-
pended upon themselves, and he therefore urged the
court not to do anything prejudicia,l to their own
interests.

Mr. Deputy DE JERSEY remarked that no one
would doubt the ability with which Mr. Deputy
Fry had brought this question before them, and
with many things he stated he (Mr. De Jersey)
cordially agreed ; but in the main—the result at
which he aimed—he most respectfully differed. He
could not help saying with regard to this motion
that it appeared to emanate from the Local Go-
vernment and Taxation Committee. (No, no, and
hear, hear.) He was very much struck with some
observations made by Deputy Fry as to the con-
nection of the Corporation with the Board of Works.
Deputy Fry condemned those who permitted that
connection, but ou making inquiries he found that
Deputy Fry was a member of the court when that
connection took place. He objected to the court
accepting a proposition which simply enunciated a
principle, but did not comprehend a plan ; and the
reason why no plan was submitted was that the
subject might be referred to a committee of "educa-
tion." (Laughter.) Ile did not believe the me-

tropolitan boroughs would agree to the establish-
ment of municipalities, believing that the Corpora-
tion wanted them merely as a lever to get rid of its
connection with the Board of Works ; and it ap-
peared to him, therefore, that the simplest course
would be to pass a resolution affirming that it was
desirable that the advantages of municipal govern-

went sliould be extended to the several districts of
the metropolis, but without taking any further
action in the matter.

Mr. FRICKER supported the resolution, and hoped

they would not wait for the metropolis to goad
them on to come to a determination. Knowing
the advantages of local government themselves,
they should at once take speedy action to secure it
for others.

Mr. H. GOVER said he could not support the
proposal to refer the matter to the local govern-
ment committee, because those gentlemen were
already pledged to a certain course. His opinion
was that they should not deal with the question
at all. They would doubtless require the co-ope-
ration of the metropolis in the future, as they had
done in the past, on matters of great importance ;
and they should not, therefore, place themselves in
opposition to the expressed views of the vestries,
who had declared themselves against the establish-
ment of municipalities.
Mr. Deputy ELLIOTT declared that people out-
side the city were seared at the bare thought of
municipalities ; and that if they did want them they
would have taken action themselves.
Mr. D. ROGERS said the question was whether
the corporation, possessing the advantages of local

government itself, should not step forward and en-
deavour to get those advantages for other people.
At the present time the metropolis was nothing
more than a chaos, there being so many divisions
and subdivisions with regard to the management of
its local affairs. As to the statement that the
vestries did not desire the establishment of muni-
cipalities, he believed that was not so ; but that,
on the contrary, they did desire them. (Hear,
hear.)

Mr. JESSE TURNER contended that there was
nothing inimical to the privileges enjoyed by the
corporation in the resolution of Deputy Fry. As to
the Board of Works, there could he no doubt that if
it continued for any length of time it must have
increased power given to it, which would either be
for good or evil, and he believed it would be for the
latter. In concluding his observations, the hon.
member alluded to the chairman of the Board of
Works, and thought a person of more eminence
ought to have been elected to fill so important a
position, to which was attached a salary of £2,000
a year. (Oh, oh.)
Mr. LOWMAN TAYLOR was satisfied the court did
not agree with the disparaging remarks—(loud cries
of " Hear, hear")—that had been made in refe-
rence to a man who had been appointed to one of
the most important :positions to which any man
ceuld be elected, who was so able and so well
calculated to carry out everything which was
entrusted to his care, and who had raised himself
by his own ability to the office which be now occu-
pied. (Hear, hear.) The Corporation of London
could refer to many of its chief magistrates who
had risen in the same manner from very humble
means to the very high and dignified position of
Lord Mayor of London. (Cheers.) He had heard
some remarks made against the Board of Works
with considerable pain. That board was originally
established to carry out the main drainage
scheme, and he might say that there had been
no additional duties cast upon it which he had
not always opposed, believing that with the main
drainage and the Thames Embankment they had
enough to do. The honourable member then en-
tered into a lengthened defence of the Board of
Works, and affirmed that the corporation had
received from 1857 up to the present time £63,827
19s. 11d. for City improvements, as against £59,025
which they had contributed as their share of the
Finsbury-park, Middle-row, Holborn, Southwark-
park, and other metropolitan improvements. lie
would be quite willing to see the Corporation dis-
connected from the Board of Works, but he did not
lie() bow it could be done. The proper course to

adopt was to do nothing at all. The subject had
been ventilated, and that was quite sufficient ; and
if the people of the metropolis were in favour of
establishing municipalities, there was nothing to
hinder them availing themselves of the privileges of
the Municipal Corporations Act if they so desired.
The Court was subsequently addressed by Mr.
Medwin, Mr. Bedford, Mr. Bonneville, and others;
and Mr. Deputy Fry having been heard in reply, a
division was taken, and the amendment was carried
by a majority of ten.
The amendment having thus become the substan-
tive motion, Mr. BEDFORD moved, as an amend-
ment, "That it be referred to a special committee
of twenty members, to be appointed at next Court,
to consider the whole question of the future govern-
ment of the metropolis, and to report thereon to
this Court."

Mr. Bedford's proposition was carrie I by a majo-
rity of 17, and the previous question, which was
next moved, having been negatived, the Court ad-

ourned.

RAILWAY AND OTHER CO.IIPANIES.

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT.

The half-yearly general meeting of this company
was held yesterday at the Westminster Palace
Hotel, Victoria-street ; the Earl of Devon in the

chair.

The report, an abstract of which appeared in The
Sun, was taken as read,
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, said he met the shareholders with more
satisfaction than on some former occasions, when
they had to regret the public distrust regarding
railway undertakings. He was sorry to say that
the general distrust did not exist without affecting
their undertaking. Some time ago the directors
had looked forward to an early opening of the line
for remunerative traffic, but during the past half-
year, and close up to a recent period, the directors
had felt very serious anxiety for the progress of
the works, which could only be mitigated by the
unaltered confidence in the soundness of the un-
dertaking, a reliance on the good feeling of the
shareholders, and their continued support. The
progress of the undertaking had been materially im-
peded until recently, when the proprietors and the
public had shown their confidence in the concern by
taking up all the debenture stock the directors were
able to issue. (Hear, hear.) They were now en-
deavouring to remove the difficulties in the way of
purchasing land, and they were actively engaged in
getting possession of all the laud they wanted up to
Westminster-bridge. It was quite true they hal
to issue the debenture stock at a higher rate of in-
terest than they could have wished, but the ques-
tion of proceeding with the works became a serious
one, and under all the circumstances the directors
felt bound to issue the stock at such a rate as would
insure their being taken up, so as to enable them to
complete the important undertaking in which they
were engaged. They also felt that the line should
be opened at the earliest possible period. The di-
rectors had been in treaty with the Government
for the purpose of laud for the station at West-
minster -bridge, and of the sum to be paid by the
Company he believed there would be no rea-
son to complain. That and other purchases would
put the company into possession of the land required
for the portion of their line up to Westminster-
bridge ; this brought them to the Thames Embank-
ment, and he might mention that the company had
been charged with causing unnecessary and avoid-
able delays in proceeding with the works, and with
depriving the public of the advantages and accom-
modation those great works would afford. There
was no ground for those allegations against the
company, as they were ready to assist in construct-
ing and opening those works as soon as possible,
and they were now preparing to do so. Of course
the shareholders would recognise the advantages
that would arise to their property by carrying ou
the railway to Blackfriars-bridge. The contrac-
tors for the railway felt confident that a little more
than six months after the Embankment works were
in a sufficiently forward state to allow them to en-
ter upon the construction of the railway they could
make and open the whole line between Westmins-
ter-bridge and Blackfriars-bridge. He believed the
Metropolitan Board had not let the works from
Temple-gardens to Blackfriars, and they pro-
posed to allow the contractor two years to complete
that portion of the embankment, so that the rail-
way company would have to wait 13 months be-
fore they could commence operations. He hoped
that a much shorter time would finish those works,
and that the railway company would be enabled to
work harmoniously with the Board of Works for
the public interests. (Hear, hear.) The directors
were doing their best to complete the portion of the
line between Kensington and Westminster-bridge,
and he ventured to hope that before the next half-
yearly meeting the line between those points would
be opened for traffic. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. SIIERRIFF, M.P., deputy-chairman, seconded
the motion for the adoption of the report.
In reply to a question, it was stated that the di-
rectors saw no necessity for applying to Parliament
for power to raise further capital, and that much
more than the whole of the debenture stock had
been applied for, and none of it was issued at less
than par.
Mr. BEST said he was not satisfied with the re-
port ; he had eudeavoured to trace the progress of
the works on the map, but was unable to do so, as
the places on the map and those mentioned in the
report did not agree. The stock was very low in
price, and he thought if more information had been
given in the report as to the progress of the works,
it would have given the shareholders and public
more confidence in the undertaking. They should
have said something about completing the line to
Westminster-bridge and when it would be ready
for traffic. They should also have stated in the
report the amount raised by the issue of the 6 per
Cent. debenture stock. It would be a most serious
matter for the company if the line should be de-
layed for two years before they could get to Black-
friars-bridge. He hoped that before half that time
expired it would be completed.
Mr. CULLUM thought the directors should have
given the shareholders more information in the re-
port as to the works and the financial position of
the company.
The CHAIRMAN said the directors had given all
the information they could up to the time the report
was issued ; the accounts were made out on the
same plan as those of the Metropolitan Railway,
and the books of the company were open to the
shareholders for inspection. The directors had
stated facts, and the truth as matters stood. They
had offered to co-operate with the Board of Works,
so as to shorten the time for the completion of
those important works. (Hear, hear.) It would
have been a waste of funds to commence works on
the Embankment two years before the line could be
opened for traffic. He trusted that a much shorter
time than two years would be sufficient to enable
them to complete the railway.
Mr. SIIERRIFY, M.P., explained that before they
could commence the works on the Embankment an
arrangement should be made as to the payment of
£200,000 to the Metropolitan Board of Works for
the privilege of carrying the railway through it.
This sum was to be paid in such manner as Lord
Stanley might decide. Then there was the cost
of theiworks. It was quite possible to carry on the
railway works cotemporaueously with the works of
the Embankment, and to finish up as they pro-
ceeded with the works. Ile thought if the Board of
Works would forego the receipt of the 8200,000
until the works were executed, that it would be for
the benefit of the shareholders and the public. The
company were not in a position to pay the money
immediately, but if that part of the contract could
be arranged so as to enable the railway company to
&ley the payment till the works were retnunera ive
all difficulty in that respect would he removed.
Mr. Wven called the attention of the chairman
to statements by Mr. Fairlie, at the meeting of the
Society of Arts, and Mr. J. Samuel iu the news-
papers, ou the subject of rolling stock being gene-
rally construcied very much heavier than was neces-
sary ; as he was anxious that their rolling stock
should be made on the best principle with a view
to economy and efficiency.
Mr. FOWLER, the engineer in chief, explained
that he had given his attention to the peculiar re-

quirements of the Metropolitan Railway as to
locomotive power, the construction of the car-
riages, and the working of the traffic. It was re-
quisite that the trains should stop in the shortest
possible time, and start so as to acquire full speed
immediately after leaving the station, so that the
trains should be enabled to stop at every station,
which averaged about half a mile apart, and at
the same time to accomplish the whole distance
much sooner than omnibuses could. Their trains
had usually five carriages, which were -so con-
structed as to carry more than 12 ordinary railway
carriages, and to occupy very much less station
room. They were made as light as possible consis-
tent with the requisite strength ; and had a smaller
amount of " dead weight" in proportion to the num-
ber of passengers carried than any other railway.
They had also laid down solid steel rails, which
stood the traffic admirably, and they had since
added steel tyres to the wheels of the carriages as
well as to the wheels of the engines. Ile did not
think they cJuld do anything better than they hid
done to insure economy and efficiency in working
the metropolitan traffic. (hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMIN sail they would endeavour to
improve future reports, and they proposed on the
next occasion to send out with the report a small
map of the line coloured with au explanation.
The report was then unanimously adopted, the
retiring directors were re-elected, and also the re-
tiring auditor.

Ou the motion of Mr. BEST, a vote of thanks
to the chairman and directors concluded the pro-
ceedings.

ARBROATH AND FORFAR.

The report states that the balance at the credit
of revenue was £11,002, out of which the directors
recommended a dividend of 6 per cent. for the year
on the whole of the paid-up capital, payable on the
Bth of Aptil, leaving a balance of £571.