HL Deb 06 July 1896 vol 42 cc749-52

(1.) The members of the water board shall be appointed at such times and in such manner, and shall hold office for such time as may be fixed by the council or other authority appointing them: Provided that—

  1. (a.) One-third, as nearly as may be, of the members appointed by the London County Council shall retire by rotation in every year.
  2. (b.) The members appointed by any other council shall not continue in office for more than three months after the next triennial election of councillors of that council, or in the case of a county borough or of the City of London, or of any other authority for more than three years.
  3. (c.) A retiring member may be re-appointed.
  4. (d.) The county councillors elected for the City of London shall not vote in the appointment of members by the London County Council.

(2.) A member of the water board need not be a member of the council or other authority by whom he is appointed.

(3.) A person interested otherwise than as ratepayer or consumer of water in any metropolitan water company shall not be qualified to be a member of the water board.

(4.) The water board shall, with respect to their proceedings and quorum, the appointment and powers of a chairman, the appointment, powers and proceedings of committees, the provision of an office, and the appointment of officers for the execution of the duties of the board, be in the same position as if they were a County Council.

(5.) The accounts of the water boards and their officers shall, for the purpose of the enactments relating to the audit of accounts of County Councils, be deemed to be accounts of a County Council and their officers.

*THE EARL OF DENBIGH

moved to omit Sub-section (1) (d). This was another humble endeavour on his part to obtain some exceptional treatment in favour of the Corporation of London. The sub-section which he proposed to leave out provided that the county councillors elected for the city of London should not vote in the appointment of members of the London County Council for the Water Board.

*LORD JAMES OF HEREFORD

said that this matter had been mentioned to him before, and he must say that he saw no objection to the Amendment. Unfortunately, however, the Amendment had not been circulated in time, it having only just been put into their Lordships' hands, and if the Amendment were accepted it might be objected that they were strengthening the city at the expense of the London County Council. He thought that the best course the noble Earl could adopt would be to apply to the President of the Local Government Board whilst the Bill was passing through the House of Commons. He understood that the Amendment would, in that ease, receive favourable consideration.

THE EARL OF ROSEBERY

said the remarks of the noble and learned Lord gave him an opportunity of asking him a question of some considerable importance, namely, whether it was seriously intended to proceed with this Bill in the House of Commons?

*LORD JAMES OF HEREFORD

said that the Bill would certainly be proceeded with unless unduly opposed. The Measure had been framed to meet the views of all parties interested, and if it were opposed at all it would be opposed from one quarter only, namely, by the London County Council. The only ground upon which they could oppose it was that they desired to be the water authority for other authorities as well as for themselves. Unless they persisted in making this demand, which Parliament had hitherto refused to grant, the Bill would be successfully passed into law.

LORD HERSCHELL

said that he could not agree that the only objection to the Bill was that the London County Council desired to control the water supply of other communities. All that they desired was that they should control the water supply of London.

*LORD JAMES OF HEREFORD

said that the London County Council had already got that. The Bill created machinery by which the London County Council would be able to obtain the control of the water supply within their own area while allowing the other communities to do the same in their own districts.

*THE EARL OF DENBIGH

asked the noble and learned Lord whether he was to understand that in the event of his withdrawing his Amendment at that stage of the Bill the noble and learned Lord would favourably recommend the matter to the Local Government Board in the other House of Parliament.

*LORD JAMES OF HEREFORD

replied in the affirmative.

*THE EARL OF DENBIGH

said then upon that understanding he would beg leave to withdraw his Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause 8,—