COMPULSORY POWERS 877 



County Council Report on Broad Chalke 

 Petition). 



If they maintain they have no money they are 

 likely to be reported on as ' labouring men, and the 

 Sub-Committee are of opinion that in case of adverse 

 circumstances they could not be answerable for the 

 rent ' {vide Dorset County Council). 



Compulsory Powers. 



It is often asserted that it is chiefly the absence 

 of compulsory powers to acquire land which has 

 made the Act such a dead-letter. It would be as 

 well, therefore, to examine the 'official' reasons 

 given above in connection with this point. 



It is probable that in most of the following cases 

 where petitions failed the presence of such powers 

 would have caused the Act to be put in operation : 



Six petitions where ' no land was available.' 



Five petitions where 'the men were unwilling 

 to accept the Council's terms ' (i.e., because the 

 fact of a public body wanting land sent its price 

 up so high that the Council were unable to acquire 

 and adapt it at a price which would be remunera- 

 tive to the men). 



One petition where 'the available area was too 

 large.' 



Three petitions where ' the land was too high 

 priced.' 



Thirteen petitions where ' the owners refused to 

 entertain any advances by the County Council, or 

 made unreasonable conditions.' 



