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10
Another important provision is made by clause 5. This
clause provides that where a difference of opinion exists
between the Metropolitan Board of Works and a Vestry or
District Board as to whether an area should be dealt with
under Torrens' Acts or Cross's Acts, or in other words,
whether the Vestry or the Metropolitan Board of Works
should carry out the work, an arbitrator may be appointed
by the Home Secretary to hold an enquiry, and to report
upon the question. Power is also given to such arbitrator
to report that in the event of the area being dealt with by
the Vestry under Torrens' Acts, the Metropolitan Board of
Works ought to contribute towards the expense. After
receiving the arbitrator's report, the Home Secretary may
decide under which Acts the case is to be dealt with. It
also provides that where an arbitrator, under Cross's Act,
has determined the amount of compensation, no appeal
from his decision to a jury shall be made without the consent
of the High Court of Justice.
Power is given to the Public Works Loan Commissioners
to grant loans for the execution of the various Artizans'
Dwellings Acts, at a minimum rate of 31/8 per cent. This
power, however, ceases in 1888.
Clause 7 is somewhat vague. It purposes to lay down
the general duty of a local authority to put in force the
laws relating to public health and local government, with
which it is invested, "as occasion may arise," but is very
general in its terms, and seems an odd mixture of permissive
and compulsory legislation.
Clause 9 extends the provisions of the Sanitary Act,
1866, to tents and vans used for human habitation, and
provides for their inspection by the Sanitary authority.
Clause 12 states that in any contract, made after the
passing of the Act, for letting for habitation by persons of