An outline of English local government / by Edward Jenks.

  • Edward Jenks
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: An outline of English local government / by Edward Jenks. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    62/288 page 50
    Library Commis- sioners. by a poll of the parochial electors whether or not they are favourable to the adoption of the “ Public Libraries Act, 1892,” and the electors may decide the question by a simple majority. If they decide in favour of adoption, they may also (if asked) specify the limit of expense to be incurred in carrying out the scheme; but in any case the expenditure will be limited to a penny rate. Upon the adoption of the Act the parish council will proceed to carry out the scheme by the provision of free libraries and museums, schools for science, art galleries, and schools for art, to the extent of its means. Formerly, in rural parishes, the scheme was worked by a special body of triennially appointed “Commissioners”; but on the coming into existence of the parish council, the latter body became the executive authority. When there is no council, the parish meeting will appoint the executive authority. In urban areas it is the sanitary district and not the parish which constitutes the Library district. Lighting and watch- ing. Baths and wash- houses. Walks and recreation grounds. Other “ adoptive ” Acts there are, by which a parish can provide itself with conveniences and luxuries, but it is im- possible to go into details. The chief examples are lighting and watching (Act of 1833), baths and wash-houses (Acts of “ 1846 to 1882 ”), and walks and recreation grounds (Public Improvements Act, t86o). For particulars the reader is referred to the statutes themselves. Enough has been said to show how such parochial machinery works. Broadly speaking, in the urban parish the vestry or the sanitary council is the authority for adopting the Acts, the council’s approval being necessary in all cases; in the rural districts, the parish meeting adopts, the parish council executes.
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