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dismissal, etc., and the discussion of apprenticeship, welfare, medical arrangements,
meals and such like matters.
The Bill also proposes that the draft rides formulated by the Minister shall
make special provision with respect to the dismissal of employees and proposes
to protect employees against victimisation in consequence of their participation
in the activities of the works council.
(Since the date of this Report, this Bill has been dropped.)
Local Authorities (Municipal Savings Bank) Bill.
The Corporation of Birmingham established a municipal bank under powers
given by a local Act, and similar powers have during the past year been given to
two other cities.
This Bill proposes to enable the corporations for the larger cities and boroughs
to establish savings banks without the necessity of promoting a private Bill.
(Since the date of this Report, this Bill has been dropped.)
Metropolis Water Supply (Communication Pipes) Bill.
This Bill was introduced by the Property Owners' Protection Association Ltd.,
and provides that on and after January 1st, 1932, the Water Board shall maintain
in repair and reinstate when necessary:—
(a) So much of every communication pipe by whomsoever and whensoever
laid within the limits of supply as lies or shall lie beneath or in any street;
and
(b) Every stopcock, stopcock box meter or other apparatus by whomsoever
and whensoever fitted which is or shall be affixed or connected to any
communication pipe and lies or shall lie beneath or in or on any street.
This is a question which has been on several occasions considered by Metropolitan
Boroughs and has been before the Ministry of Health, the Metropolitan
Water Board and the Standing Joint Committee of the Metropolitan Boroughs.
The present position is that by Section 8 of the Metropolitan Water Board
(Charges) Act, 1907, communication pipes and other necessary and proper
apparatus for supplying water for domestic purposes are to be provided, laid down
and maintained at the cost of the owner or occupier or other person entitled to
require a supply of water.
By Section 19 of the same Act such person is given the like power to open the
ground as is conferred upon him by Sections 48 to 52 of the Waterworks Clauses
Act, 1847, in relation to the laying of communication pipes, so as to enable him
to comply with his obligation as to maintenance.
The Metropolitan Water Board has recently reconsidered the matter and has
arrived at the conclusion that it is a question which calls for determination at an
early date. They approve in principle an amendment of the law to secure that
subject to suitable conditions, the provision, laying and maintenance of all
communication pipes so far as the same are situate in or under the street, shall
be carried out by the Board, and that the right to open the street which is now
shared by the owner or occupier shall vest solely in the Board. They are of opinion,
however, that any investigation having for its object a revision of the present
system in regard to the provision and maintenance of the communication pipes
must of necessity involve the consideration of a number of other matters closely
allied thereto, including the laying of duplicate mains in streets.
The Metropolitan Water Board therefore propose to prepare a Scheme for
embodying the foregoing proposals in a Bill to be promoted by the Board in
the 1931-32 Session of Parliament.
(Since this report was submitted, a communication has been
received from the Property Owners' Protection Association, stating