View report page

19
the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act must be a condition
precedent to further negociation. This was
objected to by the Council, and the Bills were consequently
opposed by the Government and rejected.
Metropolitan
Connties'
Water Board
Bill.
This Bill has been introduced into the
House of Lords by the Government.
The following report thereon was made
to the Board by the Clerk, viz.:—
This Bill has been introduced into the House of Lords by Lord
James on behalf of the Government. It provides for the establishment
of a Water Board dealing with the supply of water to so much of the
Counties and County Boroughs of London, Middlesex, Hertford,
Kent, Surrey, West Ham, and Croydon as is situate within the
Metropolitan Water Area. This area includes the County of London and
every parish outside that county to any part of which any Metropolitan
Water Company is authorised to supply water. The Metropolitan
Water Companies are the New River, East London, Southwark and
Vauxhall, West Middlesex, Lambeth, Chelsea, Grand Junction, and the
Kent.
The Water Board is to consist of 30 members, who are to be
appointed as follows, viz.:—16 by the London County Council, 2 by
the Corporation of the City, 2 by the Middlesex County Council, 2 by
the Essex County Council, 2 by the Corporation of West Ham, 1 by
each of the County Councils of Hertford, Kent, and Surrey, 1 by the
Corporation of Croydon, 1 by the Thames Conservancy, and 1 by the
Lee Conservancy.
Clause 3 of the Bill transfers to the Water Board all the powers of
the Metropolitan Authority under the Metropolis Water Act, 1871, and
all other powers of the London County Council in relation to the
Metropolitan Water Companies or the supply of water, except powers
relating to sewers, fire brigade, &c. This transfer includes the powers
conferred on the London County Council by the London Water Act,
1892, under which the Water Supply Transfer Bills of last Session were
promoted and the inquiry made by the Council as to the supply of
water to London from Wales.
Clause 4 of the Bill enables the Water Board to enquire into and
enter into negociations and make and adopt provisional agreements
respecting any matters relating to the water supply of the Metropolitan
water area, and to take such steps for promoting or opposing any Bills
in Parliament as may appear necessary or expedient in relation to the
water supply to that area. Any such Bill may provide for altering the
b 2