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188
and suburban development, by means of carefully thought out schemes
called ' town planning.'
"Part I. of the statute, dealing with the housing of the working
classes, while in form it consists only of amendments to the Act of 1890,
substantially transforms that Act into a measure of much greater efficiency.
Instead of being an adoptive Act it is now made operative in every urban
and rural district. Whenever a complaint is made by four householders
that the local authority have failed to exercise their powers, the Local
Government Board may order them to do their duty within a limited time,
and such order may be enforced by mandamus. Similar powers are also
given to a county council to take action in case of default. Land may be
acquired compulsorily in accordance with the simpler procedure first
authorised under the Small Holdings and Allotments Acts, 1907. The
period for the repayment of a loan from the Public Works Loans Commissioners
is extended from 50 to 80 years, and the money is to be
advanced at the lowest rate of interest allowed at the time.
"With regard to the implied contract by a landlord that a house is
reasonably fit for human habitation, this implied contract is now made
applicable to all houses (with no restrictions to those for the working
classes only) let at the following rents:—In London, £40 ; in a borough or
urban district council with a population of 50,000, £26; elsewhere, £16.
Moreover, this implied contract, which before only applied to the condition^
of the house at the time of letting, is now extended to the duration of the
holding, and the local authority is empowered to see that the contract is
duly carried out.
"With regard to the closing or demolition of dwelling houses unfit for
human habitation, in place of the former procedure of recourse to a court
of summary jurisdiction with appeal to quarter sessions, an administrative
order by the local authority is substituted, with appeal to the Local
Government Board. Special provision is made for rooms below the
surface of the street, habitually used as sleeping places; the erection of
back-to-back houses as dwellings for the working classes is prohibited;
and the definition of a cottage is extended so as to include a garden of not
more than one acre, without regard to the annual value of such garden.
"With regard to improvement and reconstruction schemes, an order
of the Local Government Board sanctioning such scheme, and authorising
compulsory purchase of land, is no longer a provisional order requiring
confirmation by Parliament, but takes effect when sanctioned.
"Powers are given to the Local Government Board to enter any