LIVERPOOL DOCKS.
IT was our intention to have noticed the proceedings of the Com- mittee on the Liverpool Docks last week, but a press of important matter prevented us. The report of the Committee has been brought up, and is to be taken into consideration on Tuesday next. We trust we are yet in time to call the attention .of inde- pendent Members of the House of Commons to the consideration of the proceedings of this Committee, and to the state of the case as It affects the town of Liverpool.
The estate of the Liverpool Docks has always been managed by the Corporation of Liverpool ; up to the year 1923 entirely by them, but since that period a few persons pa) ing dockage-rates have been joined in the Committee of management with the members of the Corporation, though the Corporation retained an absolute control, as well by the predominance of members of the Committee, as by a veto on all their proceedings. The Corpora- tion were, before the passing of the Municipal Act, self-elected, and for lie: they were trustees of the docks, and thirteen of the body were ex yficio members of the Committee of managemen., consisting of twenty-one persons. The estate of the Liverpool Docks, like all other estates of which corporate bodies were trustees, would have fallen into the hands of the new Corporation, had not a special proviso given the old trustees power to continue the management until the 1st of November next, and no longer. The old Corporation, instead of honourably surrendering the trust into the hands of their successors, have been mainly contendine to divest the new, responsible, and properly-elected Council, of the management of the Docks. This body, which refused the repealed applications of the merchants to participate in the direc- tion of the Dock affairs, finding they can no longer control them, do all in their power to prevent the new Town-Council from having the power of the old Corporation,—though, on every prin- ciple of policy and justice, the Town-Council elected by the inha-
bitants is the legitimate depository of all local power. The reason why the old Council deny the powers which they possessed
to their successors, is sufficiently obvious : the new Town- Council—comprising more than forty of the principal mer- chants of Liverpool, one who pays nearly 7000/. a year of dock-rates, and another the owner of' the greatest amount of mercantile ships in the world—contains, out of sixty-four mem- bers, but four Tories! This is the reason why, in the opinion of the Old Corporation, the new Town-Council are not qualified to &reek the affairs of the Docks. T! e odd Tories know th tt the 220,000/. per annum would no longer be expended upon their tools and slaves; and that the return of Lord S AN DON would be en- dangered ! The old Coryoration, in miler to prevent tha new Council from possessing this power, become stud lenly se isible that it ought to be in the hands of the payers of deck-rates, whose claims they have refused and whose complaints they have ne- glected. The petition of the oia Corporation was referred to the Lanca- shire list. Ott that list the Tories outnumber the Liberals; and on almost every division they outvoted them. The Committee was. numerous beyood precedent : on one division, 35 Members voted for the Tittles, 31 for the Liberals, and there were seven pairs,. making with the Chairman 81 Members. The Tories had the ad- vantaee of the services of' M. BON Au, whose usefulness out did- s is well kreiwn. This Committee have talsen the powers from the Town-Council : they have given them to the pavers of doeksrates,—of whose resideuee or identity there is no oliieial re- cord, and whose numbers even Nit not aceurately known. They have resolved that there shutild be a separate body of Bilice ia the town ; though Mr. M AVNE, IMO of the Commissioners of the Police of the Metropolis, Mr. II tee the Magistrate of Liverpool, together with the Suserintendente of Police in the town of Liver- pool, all gave the strongest et Hence in lityour of the consolida- thm of the Poliee,—evidenee which the ohl Corporatioe never attempted to contradict. They Lave also inserted a clause in the bill taking away from the Dock Trustees 4.0001. per annum, without any notice being given, and in direct &name of the Sin lel in e Oi de rs !
We call on the Liberal Members to throe this bill (which is a freed on the Municipal Act) out of the House. It ought to be entitled "An Act to prevent the operation of the Municipal Re- f win Bill in the town of Livepool, and to secure the Parliamen- tary seat of Lord Sandon titr the same Borough." The Derbyshire Baronet, in one of his inspired moments, came nearer the mark than Ice often does when he deliberates: he is reported to have declared, the ouly question was, " Shall Sandon sit for Liverpool?" We hope the Liberal Members will answer Sir Roost in the nega- tive. If, indeed, the seat of Serenosr can only be preserved at the expense of the efficient administration of justive, it is full time his Lordship ceased to sit for the greatest town in Englaud.
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