HC Deb 22 February 1895 vol 30 cc1434-5
MR. JAMES ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a heavy burden has been placed upon inhabitants of the Metropolis by their being compelled to pay for water being conveyed to their houses; and whether, under these circumstances, he can make any representation to the water companies to waive some portion of their water rate, or whether at least they can be asked to forego their power of collecting their water rate one quarter in advance?

MR. SHAW-LEFEVRE

I regret that any inhabitants of the Metropolis should have had to pay for water being conveyed to their houses during the recent frost, but as I have no power to compel the companies to reduce their charges, it would not be within my province to make representations to them to that effect.

SIR WILFRID LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to say that these companies have power to charge for an article they do not supply?

MR. SHAW-LEFEVRE

That is a legal question I am not quite certain about, but I have no power to interfere.

MR. ROWLANDS

May I ask whether the only responsibility of the companies is to get their rates in advance?

[No reply was given.]