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64
The evidence consequently tending to show that the Vestry
were the responsible paving authorities of the mews,
although the properties therein, with the exception of one
house, had never been rated in the parish, the owners and
occupiers were ordered to be notified that upon the roadway
being put into thorough repair at their expense, and upon
the Overseers assessing the property to the local rates, the
Vestry would assume jurisdiction.
Water Supply
and Water
Companies'
Charges.
Water Supply In view of the quinquennial re-assessment of
companies' 1890, the Vestry, on the motion of Mr. G.J.Chappie
< barges. anfj q Stone, took the initiative in a movement
against the efforts of the water companies to enhance
the value of their monopoly, which has now grown to such
proportions as to give hope that an amendment of the law
so urgently needed may nob be far distant. By section 08 of
the Waterworks Clauses Act of 1847, the various water companies
are invested with the power to make their charges
for water "payable according tc the annual value of the
tenement supplied with water"; and the operation of
the Valuation (Metropolis) Act of 1869, has enabled the
water companies to reap the benefit of the enormous
" unearned increment " thereby created, at the expense of
the consumers and without outlay of capital—a result which
manifestly could not have been intended by the legislature
when according the powers possessed by the Water Companies.
The Local Government Board were accordingly
communicated with, suggesting that H. M. Government
should introduce a short Bill into Parliament in the session
of 1890, with the object of suspending' the power of the
Companies to charge for supply in proportion to the increase
that may be expected to accrue from the re-valuation of
London. As a copy of the motion will be found at page
69 post, it is unnecessary to give it here.
In the absence of the Government taking action, it is
gratifying to note that the London County Council