Mr. H. Fowler on Tuesday introduced the Government Bill for
creating Parish and District Councils. As regards the former, it is a good Bill, of which we have perhaps said enough elsewhere. The clauses enabling Parish Councils to take allot- ment land compulsorily, without compensation for unwilling disturbance, will need modification, but otherwise the Bill, so far, is not contentious. The plan for District Councils, which will supersede the Unions, is also good ; but the method of election involves a revolution. The electors will be County Council electors, thus including women, all plural votes are discarded, and ex-officio members are abolished. That is to say, those who pay the rates will have little influence on those who spend them. That is very far to go in the direction of democracy, very much further than we have gone in Parlia- ment, and will create some discussion. We suppose the County Council precedent will be considered final; bat it may be pos- sible to give suspensory powers to the chairman, or to the Local Government Board. Certainly the means of enforcing reconsideration should exist somewhere.
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