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which the Local Government Board might be asked to determine. Without such definition the
statutory requirement is of much less effect than it would otherwise be.
The views of the Royal Commission as to purchase and ownership of the water companies'
undertakings may be thus stated—
(а) That purchase by a public authority is desirable on the following grounds—
That the work of rendering potable, by scientific treatment, the river-derived water supply of
London should be in the hands of a public authority.
That if a public authority became the purchaser, water would be supplied at constant pressure
to the highest houses.
That unification of the water undertakings would bring in its train facilities of intercommunication
and simplification of extension and enlargement of the water supply.
That it would tend to the prevention of waste.
That it would afford greater facility for supplying East London from the Thames.
That it would afford greater facility for raising the large sums necessary for the future supply.
That it would be better adapted to meet the prospective requirements of supply in water London.
(б) That a permanent Water Board of not more than 30 persons should be formed to acquire the
water companies' undertakings by agreement or arbitration, a paid chairman and vice-chairman being
appointed by the Local Government Board.
(c) That the Board should be empowered to issue a 3 per cent, stock, and in case of a deficit of
income to pay interest, to increase the water charges, or levy a rate in aid.
The Council promoted a bill for the purchase of the undertakings of the eight metropolitan
water companies upon lines similar to those of the bill presented to Parliament in the previous
session, and a bill to enable the Council to obtain and to introduce into London an additional supply
of water from the watersheds of the Wye and the Towy. The bills were rejected on the second
reading.
The Metropolis Water Act of 1899 provides for the supply of water by one company to
another. The following is a statement compiled from the monthly reports of the metropolitan water
examiner, showing the transfers of water which have been effected since July, 1898—