Act 1875. Power was given by the
act to the Local Government Board to provide, by means of a
provisional order, for transferring to county councils any of the
powers and duties of the various central authorities which have been
already referred to; but although such an order was at one time
prepared, it has never been confirmed, and nothing has been done in
that direction.

Police.

Apart from the business thus transferred to county councils, the act
itself has conferred further powers or imposed further duties with
reference to a variety of other matters, some of which must be
noticed. But before passing to them it is necessary here to call
attention to one important subject of county government which has not
been wholly transferred to the county council, namely, the police. It
was matter of considerable discussion before the passing of the act
whether the police should remain under the control of the justices, or
be transferred wholly to the control of the county council. Eventually
a middle course was taken. The powers, duties and liabilities of the
quarter sessions and justices out of session with respect to the
county police were vested in the quarter sessions and the county
council jointly, and are now exercised through the standing
joint-committee of the two bodies. That committee consists of an equal
number of members of the county council and of justices appointed by
the quarter sessions, the number being arranged between the two bodies
or fixed by the secretary of state. The committee are also charged
with the duties of appointing or removing the clerk of the peace, and
they have jurisdiction in matters relating to justices' clerks, the
provision of accommodation for quarter sessions or justices out of
session, and the like, and their expenses are paid by the county
council out of the county fund. The standing joint-committee have
power to divide their county into police districts, and, when required
by order in council, are obliged to do so. In such a case, while the
general expenditure in respect of the entire police force is defrayed
by the county at large, the local expenditure, i.e. the cost of pay,
clothing and such other expenses as the joint-committee may direct, is
defrayed at the cost of the particular district for which it is
incurred (see also POLICE).

County coroners.

Among the powers and duties given to cou