THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES 279

real conflict between two ideals—the civic pride which is most
easily aroused in a smaller compact area, and the desire for
expert centralized administration.

All the authorities so far described are general authorities,
performing many duties. There remains a comparatively small
number of ad hoc authorities, to manage ports and rivers, or to
provide water supply. Some of these *are created by the joint
action of the ordinary local authorities; on others, both the public
authorities and private companies are represented. They are
suitable for handling technical problems, but, as ipth century
experience has shown* the multiplication of them leads to con-
fusion. To-day, the Central Government finds a substitute for
them by requiring that particular local authorities shall act as
housing authorities, education authorities, and so on. Thus a
Borough Council can be several authorities in one, e.g., a sanitary,
a highway and an .education authority. It is for this reason that
local authorities find it essential to divide into committees. The
full working of this system, and its relation to the general problems
of politics, can be best understood after a survey of the social
services has been made.

BOOKS:

*j. J. CLARKE. Outline of Local Government of the United Kingdom.
*E. BRIGHT ASHFORD. Local Government; A .Simple Treatise.
(National Union of Ratepayers Associations).