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authorities thus addressed responded to the invitation, and
the first meeting of the Conference was held in St. James's
Vestry Hall on the 19th June, under the presidency of Mr.
Bonthron, customary chairman of the Vestry, when the
following resolutions were passed:—
1. That this meeting of delegates from the Vestries and District Boards
of the Metropolis affirms the necessity of the Water Supply of
London being placed in the hands of a municipal body representative
of London.
2. That in the opinion of this Conference, it is imperatively necessary
to restrain the Water Companies from increasing their charges
upon the basis of the Quinquennial Valuation now in progress ;
and that this Conference therefore request the President of the
Local Government Board to receive them as a deputation to (a)
request him to re-consider the decision communicated to the House
of Commons in reply to questions on 13th March, and 19th May ;
(b) to submit the necessity for the introduction of a Bill by Her
Majesty's Government to suspend the exercise of the powers conferred
upon the Companies by the Act of 1847 and subsequent Acts
as to the basis of their charges; and (c) failing the introduction of
a Bill by the Government, to suggest that facilities may be afforded
for the consideration of the Bill introduced by Mr. Causton, and
now awaiting second reading.
3. That in view of the fact that the effect of the quinquennial revaluation
of the Metropolis now in progress will be to augment the
charge to consumers for the same supply of water as is enjoyed by
them at the present time and thereby to increase by a very large
sum the value nf the property of the Water Companies, the
Government be requested forthwith to introduce a Bill to enable
the London County Council or some other properly representative
body to acquire the undertakings of the eight Water Companies
now supplying London, or same of them, by agreement, or failing
agreement to create a Board of Arbitrators to settle the terms of
transfer by compulsory powers, or to give power to establish an
independent supply.
4. That the President of the Local Government Board be requested to
receive a deputation from the Local Authorities of London in