Mr. Chamberlain followed on the same side, saying that it
was time either for leaders or followers to lay down a programme, and for himself, so that they had one, he did not care whether the first• object were Disestablishment or the alteration of the Land Laws. Mr. Chamberlain's speech is marked by a tone of uncertainty as to what the people wanted, as if he were feeling about after a pro- posal, and in the darkness could not find it ; but he made one exceedingly definite suggestion. He would have Parliament pass an Act granting to municipal Corporations the power to expropriate land, at a value to be fixed by arbitration, and unless we gravely misunderstand him, would allow of this expropriation before the land is actually required, and for purposes more general than
i street-making, park-making, or sanitation. That is a very large demand, and one we should hesitate to support, unless Mr. Chamberlain will concede the rider that any bye-law of this kind passed by a corporation must lie on the table of the House of 'Commons for one Session before execution. If all municipalities 'were pure, we should gladly see them own their own cities, but they are not, and we dread a possible misuse of powers so extensive 'and so profitable.
Previous page
