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12
debt. The landlord is safeguarded against arbitrary
action by right of appeal to the Local Government
Board.
This introduces a drastic change in procedure
from that followed in similar cases under the Public
Health Act, 1875. Non-compliance with notices
served under the Public Health Act and Housing of
Working Classes Act, 1890 was followed by the issue
of a Summons after information duly laid before the
Court. At the hearing, if the Magistrates were
satisfied with the reasonableness of the requirements
of the Local Authority, an order was made upon the
owner to execute the work within a time specified,
and only in the event of non-compliance with this
order could the Local Authority themselves undertake
the work and do what was necessary, recovering the
costs in due course.
The main effect of the Section, therefore, is the
substitution of appeal to the Local Government
Board for that to the Magistrates.
Section 16 extends the power of making byelaws
with respect to lodging houses for the working