§ 41. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the discontent on the Gold Coast respecting the operation of the Waterworks Ordinance of March, 1934; and whether he has received any representations on the matter?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreThe operation of the Waterworks Ordinance of 1934 was postponed and it will not be brought into force until 1st April, 1938. Apart from 1246 one communication, the origin of which cannot be traced, no representations regarding this decision have been received at the Colonial Office. With the hon. Member's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of the announcement made by the Governor in the Legislative Council on 15th March.
Following is the text:
39. This brings me to the question of the date of the imposition of a general water rate at Accra and elsewhere. Hon. Members will recall that the payment of such a rate was sanctioned by the Waterworks Ordinance, No. 20 of 1934, but that my predecessor, on representations being made to him that the operation of the Ordinance would cause the people hardship owing to the economic conditions then prevailing, decided that it should not be put into force until the time had arrived when the populace would be in a better position to support the additional financial burden involved. That time has now come. It has, however, been found necessary to make certain modifications to Government's original rating plans, so I will outline briefly the arrangements now decided. In municipal areas, that is to say in Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast and Sekondi, the owner of every house of a rateable value of not less than £6 per annum will, in the first instance, be charged a general water rate of 2½ per cent., but this rate will fall to be reconsidered from time to time in the light of the rateable capacity of the municipalities concerned. It may be raised as high as 5 per cent. Payment of this rate will begin on the 1st April, 1938, and in the meantime steps will be taken to ensure that an adequate number of street fountains is provided in all quarters of the municipalities. At the same time, that is to say from the 1st April, 1938, a system of rating for water on the lines of that at present in force at Tamale will be introduced in substitution for the system of water compounds where it exists in non-municipal areas which enjoy the amenity of pipe-borne water supplies. The assessment of these water supply areas will start forthwith. A memorandum dealing fully with the whole matter will be issued in due course for general information and will be broadcast, but to avoid any possible misunderstanding, I would here and now stress the following three points: first, that Government is satisfied that the imposition of the rate will cause hardship to nobody because poor people and those householders with a rateable value of under £6 will he exempt; secondly, that the postponement of its imposition until the 1st April, 1938, is to enable Government to complete its arrangements, and for no other reason; and, thirdly, that all persons liable to the rate will be required to pay it. I feel sure that I can rely on the innate good sense and loyalty of the Gold Coast people to assist Government in this matter, more especially when it is taken into consideration that this policy is universal in every civilised community.