§ MR. GODFREY BARING (Isle of Wight)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been drawn to the constitution of courts or boards of commissioners of sewers who possess and exercise extensive powers of spending money and levying rates without any control, and without publishing any accounts; and whether he will take into consideration the desirability of promoting legislation to abolish such commissioners, and to confer such of their powers and duties as may seem desirable upon district or county councils.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN-BURNS,) BatterseaMy attention has boon drawn to the constitution of these bodies. The matter was considered by a Select Committee of the House of Lords in 1877, and has from time to time come before Parliament. There would be serious difficulties in the way of such a transfer of powers and duties as is suggested in the Question, and I understand that the Royal Commission on Erosion of the Coasts have before them the circumstances of these bodies where they exercise powers on or near to the sea coast. It would be necessary for me to communicate with my noble friend the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries before any promise of legislation on the subject could be given, and at present it does not appear to me that the time would be opportune for proposing legislation.