They reported in August, 1894. Their general conclusion was contained in the following paragraph.[183]
“A consideration of the evidence we have received confirms the opinion suggested by the course of previous inquiries and of legislation, or, in other words, by the historic development of the metropolis, that the government of London must be entrusted to one body, exercising certain functions throughout all the areas covered by the name, and to a number of local bodies exercising certain other functions within the local areas which collectively make up London, the central body and the local bodies deriving their authority as representative bodies by direct election, and the functions assigned to each being determined so as to secure complete independence and responsibility to every member of the system.”
In February, 1899, Mr. Balfour introduced in the House of Commons a “London Government Bill.”[184] He referred to the Act of 1888 which created the London County Council as effecting a change “so much in consonance with the traditions of English municipal government that it is likely to be permanent,” and said:—
“We recognise to the full that there must be a great central authority in London.”
“Broadly speaking,” he said, “the administrative Vestry and the District Board exist now as they were framed in 1855.”
“It is with these administrative Vestries and District Boards that the present Bill proposes to deal. It is with the subordinate area, not with the central area, that we are now concerned.
“We do not propose to touch the City of London.
“We have determined that, by the appointed day it would be desirable that all London should be divided into areas for local government, and that every area should be simultaneously provided with all the necessary machinery for government of its local affairs.”
He mentioned the areas.