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Mr. Hilton thereupon was advised to wait the promised
commencement of legal proceedings for a decisive settlement
of the question in dispute; and on the loth April, he
returned the receipt, refusing to accept any receipt, but a
receipt in full.
No acknowledgment of this letter having been received,
he again on the 23rd April wrote, calling on the Company
either to set about enforcing their claim, or to withdraw it.
To both letters, though both registered, no reply has ever
been received.
At the commencement of the Midsummer quarter, 1891,
tender of the rate for domestic purposes was again made,
and payment of the bath charge refused. The money was
accepted, and a receipt "on account of water rent due" was
sent, and this has been repeated quarter by quarter up to
last Christmas.
Early in 1892 the Camberwell Special Water Committee
took up the question of water supply and water rents,
and circulated information which has been useful to many.
Several meetings were held, and Counsel's opinion obtained
and circulated.
Many other persons were advised to refuse payment of
the bath charge : and in many instances this refusal has
been persisted in up to the present time, and in no case has
the Company attempted to enforce payment of the charge,
or endeavoured to bring the matter before a Court of Law.
As the Lambeth Company continued to demand and
receive payment of this charge from the public in general,
and took no steps to get the matter determined by the
proper authority, the Camberwell Vestry invited a Conference
of South London Local Authorities, requested Mr.
Dobbs to be present, and several meetings took place.