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up to the required standard—yet the Bill appears to me in some respects
objectionable, inasmuch as it does not propose entirely to repeal all the
existing Acts relating to tho supply of water to the Metropolis, but purposes
to repeal only certain clauses of the Metropolis Water Act (1852).
This "patchwork" mode of legislation is attended with great inconvenience,
for it not only entails upon the several parties who are appointed
to carry out the provisions of the new Act the trouble of consulting all the
Acts relating to tho subject, but it renders it almost impossible for tho
general public to know the powers of the Companies on the one hand and
their own rights and privileges on the other.
In the framing of a new Act, all the important clauses of the existing
Acts should be therein incorporated and the old Acts entirely repealed.
The Metropolis "Water Bill now before the House appears to me to be
objectionable so far as it does not propose to repeal the several clauses of
" The Waterworks Clauses Act, 1847," relating to the cutting off of the
supply of water from any inhabited house because the water-rate has not
been paid. Any power short of that of cutting off the supply ought to be
given to water companies to obtain payment for the water rate, but as a
proper supply of water for domestic use is not only requisite for individual
health' but is absolutely necessary for public health, the power of stopping
the supply ought not to be given to a public company.
In order to compel the supply of water to every house, and to protect
the Companies from loss by persons obtaining water surreptitiously, it
should be enacted that every house not adequately supplied with water
should be deemed a nuisance. Tho sanitary officers of a district would then
be enabled to take summary proceedings against the owner of any inhabited
house which was not adequately supplied with water.
It has been suggested that the local Board should have power in certain
cases in poor neighbourhoods to contract with the Water Companies for a
supply of water, and that the local Board should have the same power over
the owners of such property so supplied with water for tho payment of
the water-rate as the parish officers now have for the enforcement of the
parochial rates. This arrangement would enable the local Board to insist
upon any particular part of their district being supplied in a uniform manner
upon the constant service system.
Water-Waste-Preventers.
During the quarter 25 additional water-waste-preventers have been
erected. There arc now in this District 129 of these waste-preventers in use
among the poor, who thereby obtain a constant supply of water direct
from the main without the intervention of either butts or cisterns.
Sanitary Works Performed during the Quarter.
The following return shows the amount of work done by the Sanitary
Inspectors during the Quarter ending 1st April, 1871:—