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70
METROPOLIS WATER SUPPLY.
The important question of the Water Supply of London received
considerable attention at the hands of the Vestries and District Boards
of the Metropolis during the year.
A communication was received in June, 1890, from the Vestry of
St. James, Westminster, forwarding copy of a report on the subject
and inviting the Vestry to appoint three delegates to a conference
to consider the whole subject.
The principal quest ion for considerat ion was the desirability of
inviting Her Majesty's Government to introduce a Bill into Parliament
to confer power upon the London County Council for the acquisition by
compulsion of the several Water Companies' undertakings or the
establishment of a competing supply and to require the Companies to
supply water by meter at a fixed tariff. The General Purposes
Committee, to whom this letter was referred, appointed Messrs. Hodson,
Lavy and May as delegates to the conference.
At the first meeting of the conference, which was held in
St. James's Vestry Hall on the 19th June, resolutions were passed
affirming these points, and also expressing an opinion that the Water
Companies should be restrained from increasing their charges in
accordance with the Quinquennial Valuat ion then in progress.
A deputation waited upon the President of the Local Government
Board in support of these resolutions on the 11th July, but that
gentleman pointed out that in face of the enquiry already instituted by
(he City Corporation and that contemplated by the London County
Council it would not be desirable for him to take any steps in t he
matter. The Conference accordingly decided on behalf of the Vestries
and District Boards to give notice of and prepare a Bill for the
purchase of the Water Companies' undertakings. An Executive
Committee consisting of one representative from each Vestry and
District Board taking part in this Conference was appointed to take
the necessary steps for promoting the Bill, Mr. James May representing
Islington thereon.
The Vestry being impressed with the importance of a final settlement
of the water question being effected has not only petitioned in
favor of the Hill but has cont ributed the sum of £100 0s. 0d. *towards
the expenses of its promotion.
* This contribution has since been increased to £150.