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extent of the Metropolitan water area. The clause also gives the Water
Board power to make complaints under the Metropolis Water Act, 1852,
with respect to the quality or quantity of water, and authorises the
Water Board to aid any inhabitant in obtaining the determination of
any question of general interest to consumers of water with respect to
the rights and liabilities of Metropolitan Water Companies, and the
charges made by them, and also to take such legal proceedings as may
appear necessary or expedient for the protection of the interests of
consumers of water.
Clause 5 provides that the expenses of the Water Board shall be
defrayed by the Councils of the Metropolitan Counties in proportion to
the rateable values of the parishes within the Metropolitan water area
supplied by the Metropolitan Water Companies.
Clause 6 extends the provisions of the Metropolis Water Act, 1852,
and the Metropolis Water Act, 1871, to the whole of the Metropolitan
water area.
Clause 7 prescribes the mode of election of members of the Water
Board. The members need not be members of the Council or other
authority by whom they are appointed. Persons interested otherwise
than as ratepayers or consumers of water in any Metropolitan Water
Company will not be qualified to be members of the Water Board.
Clause 8 provides that the first Meeting of the Water Board shall
be convened by the Local Government Board.
The principle of the Bill is in conformity with the
views which the Board have on several occasions
brought before Parliament and the Government. The
Bill has not yet passed the Lords.
Bills in The following Bills, which have been
Parliament. introduced in the present Session, have
also been considered by the Board, viz.:—
1.—London County Council (Finance).
2.—London County Council (Tramways).
3.—London County Council (General Powers).
4.—Southwark and Vauxhall Water.
5.—South Metropolitan Gas.
6.—London Sea Water Supply.
7.—London Brighton and South Coast Railway (Various Powers).
8.—Staines Reservoir.
9.—Public Buildings (London).
10.—Vehicles (Lights).