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the same time representatives returned by the municipal parts are permitted to have some share in police control. Thirdly, one of the difficulties which this Bill will meet with in its passage through the House will spring from the determined opposition of the smaller boroughs whose ancient privileges are interfered with. This opposition will certainly be aggravated if they are deprived of the management of their police establishments. Fourthly, as nobody would pro- pose to hand over the Metropolitan Police to the County Councils of Middlesex, of Surrey, and of Kent, an invidious distinction will be established between the home counties and the rest of England if a privilege is extended to the one which is not given to the other.
It has been suggested that a compromise might be adopted, under which the Chief Constable should remain, as at present, the officer, and under the control of the Magistrates, while the duty of paying, of clothing, and of housing the police force should be transferred to the County Council. It may be doubted, however, whether this plan would meet the views either of those who desire to keep the powers of the Magistrates with regard to the police as they are, or of those who desire that the County Councils should be put in this matter upon a perfect equality with Town Councils. Town Councils have, at present, the same absolute control over the police that County Magistrates have, and the argument that, if the question of the police is touched at all, County Municipalities should be treated with not less confidence than urban Municipalities, would seem to be irresistible.
Note 2.
The Bill as at present drawn deals neither with Land Registration nor with the question of Allotments. It has to be considered whether this course is the best or not.
The question of Land Registration of course depends upon what is to be done under the new Land Transfer Bill which is being prepared.
The question of Allotments must be looked at from a somewhat different point of view. Ua- doubtedly, the Radical party have so committed
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