asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the necessity of enabling the local authorities to start works immediately, he will take power to enable them to take land, leaving the question of price to be decided later by arbitration, particularly in view of the fact that difficulty often arises owing to the incapacity of the owner through infancy, lunacy, absence from home, etc., to consent to a sale or convey the land?

Legislation would be required for this purpose, and I doubt whether such a Bill could be expected to be non-contentious.