The County Government Bill advances slowly, but it advances. The
licensing difficulty is over, and the two prin- cipal subjects of controversy remaining are the organisation of London and the financial arrangements. The former sub- ject is not yet reached in Parliament ; but outside it Mr. Ritchie has agreed to enlarge the County Council to 150 —far too many for business, but demanded by London Members—and the desire to abolish the Metropolitan Board increases every day. The London clauses are, therefore, safe, and the financial clauses are, we fancy, protected by the relief they will afford to the ratepayer. On Tues- day, however, there was a sharp tussle over the con- dition that the grant-in-aid shall be proportioned to the amount of indoor relief. It is contended, we think justly, that this will act as a premium on the offer of indoor relief instead of outdoor relief ; but then, is not that, as a per- manent arrangement, a good thing P We have always con- tended that the rule should be relaxed in times of temporary distress, but permanent outdoor relief is a permanent bonus given to those who do not save at the expense of the provident. The amendment, after the Closure had been moved, was rejected by 222 to 164; but if the Bill is to be made law this year, discussion must be more limited.
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