§ 33. Mr. GRIFFITHSasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that last June a public inquiry was held at Totland Bay, Isle of Wight, into an application by the Isle of Wight Rural District Council to borrow £4,600 for the purpose of buying out the Totland Bay Water Company; that at the inquiry it was admitted that no examination of the pipes had been made; that no report of the company was produced other than that for the year 1926; and that the inspector stated that the proper sum to be paid was in his opinion about £3,000; and, seeing that his Department recommend a further resumption of negotiations on the ground that the sum asked by the company was excessive and that he has now consented to the application to borrow the amount originally applied for, will he state what were the circumstances which led him to give his consent?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am aware of this case. An examination of the pipes was not considered necessary. The report for 1926 contained also the figures for 1925. The inspector's estimate of value was in fact much above £3,000, though somewhat below the proposed price. As a reduction could not be obtained and the acquisition of the under-taking was of undoubted advantage to the local authority, I did not consider refusal to sanction the proposal was justified.