WATER SUPPLY

Evening Star, Issue 22893, 26 February 1938, Page 23

WATER SUPPLY

BUUi CHARGE TO SUBURBS With the object of facilitating the passage through Parliament _ of the City Council’s local Bill dealing with the suburban bulk water charge, the Water Committee met representatives of the surburban councils for the purpose of discussing the matter. The Hon; F, Jones, M.P., was convener. As a result of the conference, an agreement was reached, and the representatives present undertook to submit it to their respective councils for ratification. The agreement was as follows, the committee recommending its approval:— (a) That for the financial year 193839 the boroughs pay the city 9d a 1,000 gallons for all water consumed. (b) That as soon as possible the matter of the determination of the price to be paid by the boroughs be referred to arbitration, with one assessor for either side, together with a third as arbitrator, the decision of the ahitrators to operate as" from April 1, 1939. (c) That the council’s Bill now before Parliament proceed, on the understanding that the Is 3d rate is to remain in the Bill unaltered as a maximum charge. . . (d) That the clause in the Bill providing for retrospective payment of the new charge as from April 1, 1937, be deleted. ** (e) That a fresh clause be embodied in the Bill providing for the'reference to arbitration as per clause (b) hereof. As it will bo necessary that the arbitrated price be fixed for a definite period, the committee suggests that such'’period be five years, when the matter would be again subject to arbitration failing agreement between the parties $