BETTERMENT, a term used particularly in connection with the increased value given to real property by causes for which a tenant or the public, but not the owner, is responsible. A statute passed to facilitate the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire of 1666 provided that owners of property who derived direct pecuniary benefit from a public improvement should contribute a fair proportion of the total cost. The betterment sections of the Act of Charles II. were imported almost bodily into the first statute establishing this principle passed by the city of New York in 1691, whence it spread throughout most of the Union under the name of "special assessment." From the United States it passed to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and to some British possessions. In England the statute of 1667 was followed by legislation of a similar character, until in 176o, by 2 Geo. 3, C. 29, the principle of betterment was abandoned. After the passing of the Municipal Reform Act 1832, the principle was revived in the Westminster Sewers Act 1834. It was recognized in the Metropolitan Sewers Act 1848; the Wimbledon and Put ney Common Act 1871; the Public Health Act 1875; the Artisans Dwelling Act 1882 ; the Housing of the Working Classes Act 189o; the Manchester Corporation Act 1894; the London County Coun cil (Improvements) Act 1897; the Town Planning Act 1925; the Town Planning (Scotland) Act 1925; and the Roads Im provement Act 1925.