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house for the purpose of survey or valuation, and also to obtain a report
upon any crowded area from the local authority. For hearing appeals the
Board is required to make rules, which must provide that no appeal be
dismissed without a public local inquiry; and at any stage in the
proceedings a special case may be stated for the opinion of the High
Court on a point of law.
"Part II. deals with the novel question of "town planning": that
is, the provision of a considered scheme for the laying out of land which
is in course of development or appears likely to be used for building
purposes. It is, of course, open to private persons, including landowners,
to prepare such a scheme ; but the statute contains elaborate provisions
for the preparation or adoption of town planning schemes by a local
authority—either a borough or a district council and the London County
Council. Such schemes must contain provisions prescribed by the Local
Government Board; they must be approved by the Board, and in the
event of opposition they must be likewise laid before Parliament. The
scheme may include power to purchase land compulsorily in accordance
with the simplified procedure provided in Part I. In case of default by
the local authority the Local Government Board may issue orders
enforceable by madamus.
"Parts III. and IV. contain general provisions. Of these the most important
is that which makes compulsory (instead of optional, as hitherto) the
duty of every county council to appoint a medical officer of health, who may
not engage in private practice or hold any other public appointment, whose
duties are to include those prescribed generally by the Local Government
Board, and who may not be dismissed without the consent of the Board.
Every county council (except that of London) is required to establish a
public health and housing committee, to whom all relevant matters must
be referred and whose reports must be considered. Provision is aho
made for assistance to be given to co-operative building societies. Finally,
no common land or open space may be acquired under this statute or
under the Housing Acts unless the scheme authorising it is expressly
confirmed by Parliament." (Paterson's Practical Statutes.) (See
page 162.)
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