§ MR. GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the Government will consider the advisability of empowering local authorities to acquire waterworks undertakings within their administrative areas, by agreement or arbitration, with the consent of the Local Government Board, without having recourse to the promotion of a Private Bill.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. WALTER LONG,) Bristol, S.My hon. friend asked me a somewhat similar question last year. † I may point out that under the Public Health Act, 1875, local authorities can at present acquire waterworks undertakings by agreement without recourse to a Private Bill. I should not be disposed to accept the suggestion that they should be empowered to acquire these undertakings compulsorily merely with the consent of the Local Government Board.