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165
to carrying out the local authority's resolution to acquire any
lands compulsorily. Failing agreement, the amount of the
compensation would be ascertained by the County Court Judge,
where the total claims in respect of one property are under
£1,000, and in other cases by a judge of the High Court. In
assessing the compensation the Bill directs that there shall be no
addition for compulsory purchase, but that there shall be an
allowance for cost and trouble of removal, reinvestment, or other
special circumstances. When a person who is thus dispossessed
is affected in his business, the direction is that regard be paid to
the prospect of other premises being obtained for the business,
but that in no case is more than one year's net profits to be
awarded. Further provisions of the Bill are that vacant land is
to be rated at 4 per cent. on the sum which the land would sell
for; and that unoccupied houses are to be subject to rates just
as if they were occupied, and half of these additional rates are to
go towards the purposes of the Bill. Besides conferring borrowing
powers on the local authority, the Bill would enable it, when
it obtains the consent of the Local Government Board, to add
a penny in the pound to the landlord's property-tax for the
purposes of the Bill. In all works executed under the Bill
attention is to be directed towards providing for the poorer
classes the best available accommodation at the lowest rent."
Your Yestry petitioned Parliament against this Bill also.
Public Health (Prevention of Infectious Disease).—
"A Bill to amend the Public Health Act, 1875, so as to make
further provision for the prevention of Infectious Diseases, and
for other purposes," is really a Bill for Notification of Infectious
Disease, upon which I submitted a full report (No. 4., April 23,
1888, page 40). Although the Bill as drawn does not apply to
the Metropolis, the subject with which the Bill deals has already
been sufficiently considered (vide pages 88—103 inclusive.)
Local Government (England and Wales).—Upon
this Bill, which materially affects the question of Local Govern-