334 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

brings coal to it in municipally owned ships. In consequence of
all these powers, London contains local Government within
local Government. Despite the civic sense of London as a whole,,
the problems of, say, Hampstead and Bermondsey are very
different; if the residents in one area wish to give special attention
to any service, and become pioneers for London, and if they are
prepared to pay, it is desirable that they should have every oppor-
tunity to do so. The Boroughs have set Up a permanent Joint
Committee Which tries to secure uniformity where it is desirable,
as in the matter of assessment. In negotiations with the Central
Government, this committee can voice such views as are common
to all the Metropolitan Boroughs.

AD HOC AUTHORITIES.

The case for a Greater London Council becomes stronger when
one notices the various authorities set up to handle particular
problems. Some of these, such as the Metropolitan Water Board'
and the Thames Conservancy Board, are composed of persons
appointed by public authorities-tfthe-1 local authorities in and
around London, and Government Departments. Others, such as
the Port of London Authority, have some members appointed by
public authorities, and others by private companies. The Metro-
politan Police are controlled by the Home Office, and the London
Passenger Transport Board is a private concern in special
connection with the Ministry of Transport. The areas served
by these authorities are all different, both from the L.CC. area
and from each other. Public and private representatives from a
wide area sit on the London and Home Counties Joint Electricity
Authority. It was intended that this authority should become
by 1971 the owner of all the plant now privately owned; but it is
probable that before then there will have been considerable
changes in the whole of public policy about electricity.

BOOKS:

HOWARD. The L.C.C. from Within.

H. MORRISON. How Greater London is Governed.