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Audit.—The Accounts are to be kept in the form prescribed by the
Local Government Board, and audited by an Auditor appointed by
that Board (clause 29).
Officers and Servants— Officers and servants in the service of the
Companies are to be taken over by the Water Trust, or compensated
(clauses 36 and 37). The Trust are to have full power to appoint
officers (clause 35).
Consultative Members.—To facilitate the transfer, power is taken to
appoint not more than three consultative members for the first three
years after the passing of the Act (clause 38). These members are to
be selected from the chairmen, directors, or principal officers of the
Companies, and are not to have power to vote.
Miscellaneous.—The Water Trust are to provide offices (clause 39);
may make bye-laws (clause 40); are to discharge debts and obligations
of the Companies (clause 41); to continue or to suffer actions commenced
by or against the Companies (clause 42); and to sell at their
discretion superfluous lands (clause 47). The books and accounts of
the Water Trust are to be open to inspection (clause 44).
Power to County Council to carry Act into execution.—This part
of the Act is practically an alternative proposal to the creation of a
special Trust, as provided in the earlier part of the Act. Clause 54
provides that if at any time between the 1st November, end the 31st
December, 1891, the London County Council shall, by a majority of
the votes of the entire Council at a ppecial meeting convened for the
purpose, so resolve, the Council shall become the Trustees for carrying
the Act into execution, and the Act is to be read as if the Council were
substituted throughout for the Water Trust. Subsequent clauses provide
for the necessary alterations being made in the Act.
The Vestry agree generally in the provisions of the Bill,
with the exception of the manner in which it is proposed to
constitute the new Water Authority. This Authority, the
Vestry think, should be composed of members elected by
(but not necessarily from among) the County Councils or
local sanitary authorities having jurisdiction in the water