The Sun.
London, England, 1869-11-26 00:00:00

MORE NATIONAL ROBBERY.

The Convention of Ecuador have imitated the neat
financial example set by the Government of Mexico.
Juarez and his subordinates found out a new
and highly effective way of getting rid of a national
debt. They refused to pay interest on the Mexican
bonds, and now that the price is low in the market,
as a natural consequence of repudiation, they are
buying them up at one-seventh of their original
value. Ecuador is about to do the same thing. Some
months ago the President of this South American
Republic had the impudence to affirm that
inability to pay a debt was a reasonable
excuse for renouncing it altogether, and accordingly
payment was suspended. The Parliament has
sanctioned the robbery, and has authorised the Presi-
dent to buy up the bonds, which may now be had at
£lO each.

THE WATER SUPPLY OF 711 E METRO-

POLLS.

Yesterday a very fully attended meeting of the
St. Pancras Vestry was held at the Vestry-hall,
Camden-town, for the purpose of considering a pro-
posal before the Metropolitan Board of Works, to
make application in the ensuing session of Parlia-
ment for powers to purchase the whole of the plant
and interest of the existing Water Companies, and

,o take into their own hands the distribution and

control of the future water supply of the metro

polis.
Mr. Churchwarden Turner presided, and both
the members of the Metropolitan Board,Mr. Francis
Healey, and Mr. Silas Taylor, were present.
Mr. GIBB, the vestry clerk, read the proposal
submitted to the Metropolitan B, a d of Works by
the Works and General Purposes Committee of the
Board, recommending the board to signify its ap-
proval of the views of the Royal Commission on
Water Supply. These were to the effect
That it is a matter of vital importance that an
abundant supply of water should be provided for
all classes of the population, as well as for gene-
ral purposes ; that for these purposes there should
be a power of levying as at Manchester, Glasgow,
and elsewhere, two rates—one alspecial or domestic
rate on all dwelling-houses, the otherla public or
general rate upon all ratea'file property ; that no
trading company should be permitted to levy or
expend such compulsory rates, and that, therefore,
the future control of the water supply should be
intrusted to a responsible public body, with powers
conferred on them for the purchase and extension

of such works, and for levying the rates referred
to. That this plan offers the only feasible means
of introducing efficiently the system of constant
supply and for securing a compulsory supply to the
poor; we believe that it would tend to economy,
to the improvement of the quality of the water, and
to insure the proper provision for public objects,
and for extinguishing fires, and that it would in-
crease the probability of beneficial results from the
purification of the Thames."

Mr. HEALEY, the senior member of the Metro,-
politan Board, said this recommendation of the
Royal Commission, that the future distribution and
water supply of the metropolis should be placed in
the hands of a responsible body, could only apply
to one of three such bodies—either the -Metropoli-

tan Board of Works, the Board of Trade, or to
some highly-paid special commission. It had been
the tendency of all Governments of late, no matter
to what party they belonged, to support centralisa-

tion, and now they were striving to take away the
very last remnant of local self-government they
possessed, even to absorbing the interests of trading
companies. When this scheme for buying up die
Water Companies came before the Metropolitan
Board he should give it his most determined oppo-
sition. (Hear, hear.) In the first place, he should
do so bec Luse they had very little, if any, fault to
find with the water as at present supplied; secondly,
on the ground of expense. The transfer of the ser-
vice pipes would cost £8,000,000, and the rate-
payers of the metropolis would have to be taxed
£3,000,000 more for the adaptation of their cis-
terns. Besides this the companies were entitled by
law to 10 per cent. beyond what their plant and
interest was worth. He should like to know where
all this enormous amount of capital was to come
from. (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.")
Mr. SILAS TAYLOR, the other member of the Me-
tropolitan Board, entered into an elaborate state-
ment of various schemes which had been proposed
for supplying the metropolis with water ; some pro-
jects requiring a capital of 13 and 14 millions of
money. The New River Company had lately ex-
pended £BOO,OOO, and the East London Company
£700,000 in filtration reservoirs, and that would all
have to be paid for. Even if the population of the
metropolis were five millions, it would only at the
present average rate require 175,000,000 gallons per
day, whereas the existing Water Companies could
supply 180,000,000 gallons. Ile regretted to say
that the committee upon this subject were unani-
mous in recommending the Board to carry out the
views of the Royal Commisioners in buying up the
existing companies.
Mr. COPEMAN moved :—" That this Vestry is of
opinion that in the event of any future legislation
with regard to the supply of water to the metro-
polis, the constant service system ought to be
promptly introduced, and that it is a matter of
vital importance that au increased supply of water
should be provided for all classes of the population
for domestic purposes, as well as for general and
public purposes, street watering, cleansing public
fountains, &c., and for extinguishing fires; such
increase of supply to be provided by the existing
Water Companies ; and that controlling powers
over such companies with regard to rates, and also
the mode of levying the same, should be arranged by
Act of Parliament." He charged the Chairman
of the Metropolitan Board and Mr. Ayrtou with
coquetting together to arrange this scheme, and
said there was not a greater friend to centrali-
sation in Parliament than the latter gentleman.
Mr. ADDIS seconded the motion.
Mr. JENKINS denounced the proposal as another
plan to centralise power iu the hands of the Metro-
politan Board, a course whch could only lead to a
frightful increase in the taxation of the ratepayers,
as had been instanced in the case of the fire en-
gines, as exhibited in that parish, where au ex-
penditure of about £4,000 had been increased to
£2,000 without any additional protection. (Hear,
hear.)
Mr. RANGER said the report of the Royal Com-
mission dealt in generalities, and was based upon
no data, and was therefore valueless. He hoped
they would determinedly oppose this.
Mr. T. ELDRIDGE moved the following amend-
ment :—" That this Vestry is of opinion that it is
very undesirable that the Metropolitan Board of
Works, or any other central Board, should be em-
powered to purchase the interest of the existing
Water Companies, as such a course would cast ad-
ditional burdens upon the metropolitan rat,.-payers
to the extent of several millions sterling. That
this Vestry is further of opinion that all that is
necessary is that the ll,.)ard. of Trade or the Metro-
politan Board should have power to call for
reports fromthe Water Companies, and to institute
any necessary inquiry or supervision to compel
the companies adequately to fulfil their obliga-
tions with regard to the water supply of the me-
tropolis." Mr. Eldridge argued that the resolution
proposed did not strike sufficiently at the root of
the contemplated evil. Ile considered the Aletro-
politan Board was by far moie an irresponsible
Wp
ater
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toymopf a i
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oat.
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id, a tuhi ae
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would be absolutely ruinous. (Hear, hear.) It