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95
Essex. If London only were concerned, it might be urged that the
London County Council should be the authority to take over the supply
of water. Again, if the system of distribution were such as to allow
the County Council to supply water in bulk to the Local Authorities of
the surrounding districts at a price to be agreed upon from time to
time, as is the case in many of the provincial corporate towns, the
Council might be regarded as the natural Water Authority for the whole
area, in consequence of the portion under its jurisdiction being more
populous and more wealthy than the whole of the remainder. But the
system of distribution is apparently too much interlaced among the
various districts between the source of supply and the central area, to
render any such course practicable. The only alternative seems to be
a power of equal rating throughout the area of supply. And it is
doubtful whether Parliament will confer upon one authority, such as
tbe London County Council, power to levy rates for any purpose whatever
within the jurisdiction of another constituted Authority. This
power to levy rates may become a matter of importance forty or fifty
years hence, by which time, if not earlier, considerable expenditure will
probably be necessary to further supplement present sources of supply,
if not to open up a new source, or sources, altogether. This expenditure
should, in equity, be spread over the whole area of supply, but the
ratepayers in the outer ring may fairly object to be assessed for an
expenditure by a body upon which they are not represented. Circumstances
may, indeed, necessitate the raising of a rate at a very early
period, if any unforeseen circumstance arises to render the public
water supply not self-supporting. The question of rating and representation
is therefore one of some importance, especially bearing in
mind that the area under the jurisdiction of the London County
Council is approximately 120 square miles, while the area supplied by
the eight Water Companies is approximately 460 miles, although at
present London far exceeds in point of population and rateable value
the remainder of the area.
Alternative Proposals for a Water Authority.—Bearing in mind'
the desirability, on the one hand, of avoiding the creation of a new
Publio Authority in London, and on the other, the justice of the plea
urged by consumers in the outer ring for representation on the Water
Authority, the Committee have deemed it best to frame the Bill in such
a way that, after hearing such evidence as may be tendered, Parliament
may either create a special Authority or entrust the duty of water