MR. JAMESROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that the New River Company are trying to enforce Section 70 of the Act of 1847, which gives power to water companies to collect the water rate one quarter in advance; and whether, under these circumstances, the Government will bring in a short Bill to repeal this section, or whether they will give facilities to a Bill for the above object if introduced by private Members?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHSection 70 of the Waterworks Clauses Act, 1847, provides that the water rates shall be paid in advance by equal quarterly payments. The section has almost invariably been incorporated since 1847 with every Local Act or Provisional Order by which Local Authorities or companies have been authorized by Parliament to make charges for the water supplied by them. It is also incorporated with the Public Health Act, 1875, and therefore applies to cases where water is supplied by Sanitary Authorities under the general law. The power which the New River Company possess in this respect is therefore in no way exceptional; and the repeal of the section referred to would. seriously affect the statutory rights of 408 the great majority of Corporations, Sanitary Authorities, and companies who supply water for domestic purposes. The Government have no intention of bringing in a Bill to repeal the section.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDSHas not the enforcing of the power in question pressed heavily on struggling ratepayers?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI am not aware of the fact; but if it is so, the delay in enforcing the power shows the great moderation with which the company have exercised their rights.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDSI beg to give notice that I will move for leave to introduce a Bill to abolish the section.