§ 73. Mr. RENDALLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the petition of water-users in the rural districts of Thornbury, Kingswood, and Warmley, Gloucester, and Keynsham, Somerset, complaining of an Order made by the Board authorising an increase in charges of 75 per sent upon houses not exceeding £10 annual value and of 50 per cent. where they do, but reserving power to vary such Order; whether the petition points out that such increases will give the company, a return far in excess of any extra expenses incurred by them post-war; whether all the rural district councils and parish councils concerned have passed resolutions of protest; and will he now consent to receive a deputation of the rural councils to put their strong and carefully prepared case before him?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have received the petition to which my hon. Friend refers, and I observe that the case of the petitioners, purports to be based upon the accounts of the company for the year 1917. As the accounts for 1918 are now available I have asked the company to furnish the West Gloucestershire Water Ratepayers' Association with a copy, and I shall be happy to consider very carefully any representations which the association may wish to make after they have received the most recent accounts.