Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... LECTURE II General Functions of Local Bodies--Bates--Need of Legislative Sanction for Expenditure of Bates--But not of Common Good--Work of the Town Council--Its Committees--Its Officials--By-laws--"Adoptive Acts"--Work of the County Council--Standing Joint Committee--District Committee--Special Districts for Lighting, etc.--General Functions of County Councils--Work of Parish Councils--Poor Belief--Public Libraries--Allotments and Small Holdings. Being now in possession of a general idea of the machinery of local government, we must proceed to consider what the various bodies do. The local administration tends in these days to become constantly more complicated, and new duties are being added at frequent intervals to the functions performed by our administrative boards. Three very large and important divisions of local government we reserve for separate treatment under the heads of Poor Law, Education, and Public Health. What we wish to get in the meantime is a more general view of the work of local government, and also some idea of the detailed machinery of officials and committees by which the work is accomplished. Although the departments of a local authority's work may be very numerous, there is one essential general limitation, and that is connected with H finance. It is not proposed in these lectures to deal with the complex and difficult matter of local government finance; but a few words on it in this connection seem indispensable. The expenses of local administration are met mainly out of rates. Now, rates are payable by those on whom they fall only because Parliament has enacted that they may be levied and must be paid. But Parliament has never said that a Town Council or a County Council may levy rates and do what it pleases...
