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THIRTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
of
THE BOARD OF WORKS
for the
WANDSWORTH DISTRICT,
Being for the Year ended 25th March, 1892.
Water
Supply.
The Select Committee of the House of
Commons who, as stated in the last Annual
Report, had under consideration the London Water
Commission Bill (promoted by the City Corporation)
and the Metropolis Water Supply Bill (promoted by a
Committee representing Vestries and District Boards)
made the following report upon the subject, viz.:—
1.—"Your Committee have proceeded upon the assumption that in the opinion
of Parliament it is desirable to establish a single public representative water
authority for the metropolis.
2.—"The Royal Commission presided over by the Duke of Richmond reported
in 1869, 'That the future control of the water supply should be entrusted to a responsible
public body, with powers conferred on them for purchase and extension
of existing works, and for levying certain rates referred to.' And the Select Committee,
of which Sir W. V. Harcourt was Chairman, and which examined into the
provisional agreements for purchase contained in the Government Bill of 1880, reported,
'That it is expedient that the supply of water to the metropolis should be
placed under the control of seme public body, which shall represent the interests
and command the confidence of the water consumers.'
3.—"Since these Reports much valuable experience has been gained of the
growth of population, and of the undertakings of the water companies and the demands
upon them. Parliament also, since 1886 has adopted the policy of enforcing
more stringent provisions in the case of the issue of any fresh capital. An important
enquiry into the whole matter, too, has recently been held by the Corporation
of the City of London; and it is evident that there is much fresh light for the
consideration of the question from every point of view. Your Committee, therefore,
consider it to be most desirable that the problem should be carefully and deliberately
examined by the newly-contructed municipal authc rity, the London
County Council, in the interests of the water consumers of the metropolis.