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168
The power to abolish waste-pipes universally, rests, as
already stated, with the Companies alone, and some years
ago I endeavoured to stimulate the local Companies
to exercise their power. I was given to understand that
the Chelsea Company—at the time they were short of
water, prior to the construction of their new works at West
Molesey—had taken steps to abolish waste-pipes, with a
view to economise consumption, but I was quite unable to get
the West Middlesex and Grand Junction Companies to move in
the matter. Tho views expressed by the Secretaries were to
the effect that the Companies, being trading bodies, did not care
to offend their customers: the regulation was intended to prevent
waste of water, simply, and as they had plenty of water
they didn't care about the waste. I faile 1 in the attempt to
convince these gentlemen that the Commissioners, in framing
the regulation must have had in view the removal of a dangerous
nuisance. I may add that under regulations for the construction
of house drainage, which have been enforced for some
time past in this Parish, waste-pipes are not allowed to have
direct communication with the drains, while existing connections
of this sort are invariably cut off whenever discovered.
I need hardly remind your Vestry that the subject of water
supply has constantly engaged my attention; or that the matters
referred to in Colonel Bolton's above-mentioned report have
always formed the subject of comment in my Annual Reports.
I was glad therefore that the subject had attracted the attention
of the Local Government Board, and I ventured to suggest the
desirability of a reply being sent to the Board's communication,
directed to calling their attention to the necessity of such an
alteration in the law as would give Nuisance Authorities coequal
powers with the Companies to enforce the regulations
No doubt it is true, as Colonel Bolton 6tates, that, if not the
"only," at any rate, a "remedy" for the state of affairs described
by him will (ultimately) be found in the establishment of the
"constant supply system," and the consequent abolition of unfit
receptacles. To how slight an extent that system has been in-