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7.—"Your Committee found it impossible, within the limits of the time at
their disposal, to conduct satisfactorily any examination into the quality and
quantity of the London water supply. But, apart from that consideration, they are
of opinion that these questions will naturally form a part of the complete inquiry
which it will be the duty of the London County Council to conduct, with the assistance
of the professional advice which, as your Committee have recommended, should
be at their disposal.
8.—"Although your Committee have not been able, for the same reason, to
examine into any of the cases sought to be established before them by the various
local authorities of the areas in which are contained the present scources of
supply, for the protection of their separate interests, your Committee have received
sufficient indication that there exist complaints, founded or unfounded, that those
sources are in some quarters being even already overtaxed. Your Committee do
not see their way to recommending any practicable method for the effective
association of any of these authorities with the inquiry, for which the London County
Council must be responsible. But they are of opinon that in any such inquiry
regard must be had. on the one hand, to the statutory rights of the present water
companies, and, on the other, to the legitimate wants and necessities of the
inhabitants of those areas. It must remain with Parliament ultimately to decide
upon the merits of any scheme submitted.
9.—''In view of the possibilty of its being ultimately established that the
present sources of supply cannot be extended, and that additional sources are
required, and in view also of the fact that the possible fresh areas of supply are
limited, and are already being drained for other large communities, your Committee
think that Parliament may well consider before granting any powers for further
encroachment upon those areas, how far provision ought fairly to be made for the
possible requirements alike of the metropolis and other large populations upon the
lines of supply.
10.—"Of the two Bills before your Committee for the constitution of a new
water authority, neither appeared to them calculated to effect a satisfactory
solution of the problem, but your Committee desire to place upon record their
opinion that both those Bills were promoted in the public interest, and to considerable
public advantage."
"14th July 1891."
An application was made to the Parliamentary Committee
for payment of the expenses incurred by the
Vestries and District Boards in the promotion of their Bill,
but the Committee were of opinion that they had no power
to deal with the question of costs. This Board have
contributed £200 and have promised conditionally to
contribute a further sum of £100 towards the expenses.
In the present Session of Parliament two Bills in
identical terms have been introduced into the House of
Commons by the City Corporation and the London