HC Deb 14 July 1897 vol 51 cc124-5

A local authority may aid any water consumer in obtaining the determination of any question which appears to the local authority to be of interest to water consumers with respect to the rights, duties, and liabilities of any of the metropolitan water companies, or otherwise with respect to the supply of water given and the charges made by the metropolitan water companies, and may take such legal proceedings as appear to the local authority necessary or expedient for the protection of the interests of water consumers with respect to the matters aforesaid.

MR. BOULNOIS

moved, after the word "consumer," to insert the words "within the district of such local authority." His object, he explained, was to provide that the local authorities should not have a roving commission to go all over the Metropolis and outside it.

MR. CHAPLIN

could not accept these words where they had been moved, as they would be too restrictive, but he was quite willing that they should come after the words "of interest to water consumers."

MR. BOULNOIS

assented, and the Amendment in the place suggested by Mr. Chaplin was agreed to.

MR. LOUGH

moved to leave out the Words— or otherwise with respect to the supply of water given and the charges made by the metropolitan water companies; and. It appeared to him the clause as it stood was somewhat restrictive, and in favour of the companies, and the object of his Amendment was. to extend the power of the Commission rather than to narrow it.

MR. CHAPLIN

assured the hon. Member that the object of the clause was to widen and not narrow the powers of the Commission. He was quite willing, if the hon. Member withdrew his Amendment, to move to omit the words with respect to the supply of water given and the charges made by the metropolitan water companies, in order to insert the words— in reference to the quantity or quality of the water supplied for the charges made by them.

MR. LOUGH

accordingly, by leave, withdrew his Amendment, and

MR. CHAPLIN

moved the Amendment which he had suggested, and it was agreed to.

MR. LOUGH

moved to leave out the words "with respect to the matters aforesaid."

MR. CHAPLIN

accepted the Amendment, which was agreed to.

Amendments made.

And, it being Half-past Five of the clock, the Chairman left the Chair to make his Report to the House.

Committee report Progress; to sit again To-morrow.