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102
We are fully alive to the objections against the practice of cutting off
supplies, and our Sub-Committee, who examine the list of defaulters, at once
recognised the force of the objections by instituting, as far as circumstances
would permit, legal proceedings in lieu thereof, and arrangements are being
made whereby summary proceedings for the recovery of arrears will be taken
in the great majority of cases.
Considerable administrative changes have had to be adopted in order to
modify the practice of the Companies, and these are being carried out as rapidly
as possible with the view of reducing the necessity of disconnecting supplies.
We would, however, point out that the effect of our operations has been to
considerably reduce the number of cutting-off notices issued, and that the
process of reduction will be continued as rapidly as circumstances permit.
We would suggest that if at any time the Local Authorities find that the
disconnection of a supply is likely to occasion the slightest danger to the public
health, they should direct their officials to communicate with the Board's
officials, who would promptly act in concert with them in order to obviate
the possibility of the danger referred to.
Dealing with the present procedure, the facts are as follows:—
No supply is cut off for non-payment of rates—
(а) Without an order of the Committee after a full enquiry into
the whole of the circumstances.
(b) Where the premises are known to be occupied by more than
one family.
(c) Where inability to pay by reason of real poverty is established.
(d) Where the owner and not the occupier is responsible by law
or agreement for the payment of the water rate.
We may add—
(1) That the notice to "cut-off" is sent to both the Clerk and the
Medical Officer of Health of the Local Authority concerned, instead of
only to one of those officers as formerly.
(2) That during the half-year ending Michaelmas, 1906, with
1,100,000 supplies, only 214 were withdrawn for non-payment of
water-rate, and of these only about 150 were inhabited houses.
(3) That with a view to giving the Local Authority information
as to the reason of disconnection, we have arranged that the notices
sent to them shall in future declare in all cases the reason for the
withdrawal.
In conclusion, we deem it advisable to call the attention of the Board to the
appreciable loss of income which might result if "cutting-off" as a remedy
for non-payment of rates were immediately and wholly abandoned.
A. B. Pilling,
Clerk.