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15
There are a variety of other clauses which relate to general
matters, but it will be seen from the above that the Vestry has
considerable powers and jurisdiction. It may not only generate
electricity and light its own streets, but it may supply it to private
consumers, though the latter is hardly likely to happen or very
seldom. It has an absolute veto against admitting electricity in a
public sense at all; although if a person or firm choose to generate
their own electricity and use it on their own premises they can do
so without a license, but they must not break up the streets or sell
the current. Any person or Company may, however, apply to
Parliament over the heads of the Local Authority for powers,
and, doubtless, should the Local Authority refuse its consent, or
attach unreasonable conditions to such consent that would, if the
district were worth securing, be the course adopted. It does not
appear that there is any restriction of an area to a single license,
but the propriety of granting more than one license in a certain
area would be for the consideration of the Board of Trade. There
is nothing to authorise the Vestry to sell its consent, which indeed
would be a vicious proceeding, but if it obtains a license itself it
may work it by contract. The undertakers are to be, under the
license, bound to supply electricity upon equal terms to all
private consumers, according to the license, but they are not
permitted to prescribe the special form of lamp or burner. Thus,
Company A may supply the current but the consumer may, if he
chooses, use Company B's lamp, and if it is objected to by A as
being unsuitable it can be settled by arbitration. It is obvious,
therefore, that no hard and fast conditions for consent can bo
determined a priori, but each application, when made, must be
considered upon it merits.
Artizans Dwellings, &c.
The difficulties experienced by the Parochial Authorities in
putting into execution Torrens's Acts, and the great expense and
difficulty experienced by the Metropolitan Board in executing
Sir Richard Cross's Acts led to the appointment of a Select
Committee of the House of Commons to enquire into the causes of