§ MR. DIXON-HARTLAND (Middlesex, Uxbridge)asked the President of 355 the Local Government Board, Whether, in view of the large profits derived by the Metropolitan Water Companies and the Conservators of the River Thames from the sale of the water of that river, it is possible for the Local Government Board to oblige the se Bodies to devote some part of the sums received to help to defray the cost of diverting the sewage from the river;and, if not, whether, in the case of the town of Staines, which while deprived of its ancient outlet for sewage derives no profit or advantage from such sale of its water, and where the sewage system required by the Board, as proved by Mr. Hawksley's Report, will involve the financial ruin of the town, he will promote any scheme to defray part of the necessary cost of her own requisitions?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)The sums to be paid to the Conservators of the River Thames by the Metropolitan "Water Companies are fixed by statute, and the Local Government Board have no powers in the matter. With regard to the Staines Local Board. I regret to state that they have long evaded their statutory duty, with the result that the Thames has been polluted with the sewage of the district. It devolves on the Staines Local Board, as is the case with every other Sanitary Authority, to defray the cost of any sewerage works which are required for their district. No doubt, the cost to Staines will be heavy;but it is impossible for me to promote any scheme for the purpose of relieving the Staines district of the burden which it must undertake.