310
( 178 )
2231
2
3
4
7
8
shillings, and the next three two shillings and sixpence, and so on. That is what we adopted there in order to prevent extravagance. We think a household that used twenty-seven gallons per head per day must be doing something with the water that it was not intended for.
Q-Do you think it would be a good thing here to introduce a differential rate to check extravagance ?
A-Certainly, I think so. You could have an ascending scale. You need not go on Malta's rate. In fact, in Malta, they would not have got the first three gallons at all, but it was a prescriptive right they had from time immemorial.
There were no house rates, and no taxes. Nothing we could go upon but this and it was considered that the Grand Master who made the old original water-works had provided a supply that amounted to about three gallons per day per head of population. It was not fixed on any sanitary basis.
By Mr. Thurburn.-I am living in a house with three other men and our surplus comes to twenty-five cents per month. The free supply here is quite enough, I think, to give people what they want.
A-The free supply-fifteen gallons per head per day-is quite enough.
[In answer to a question by Mr. SHEWAN, witness said: --I think you ought always to have a gratis allowance or minimum consumption, otherwise landlords will put the people on short rations when there is no need for them to be so.]
Q-Don't you think our system is inequitable?
A-The only equitable system is the meter system. You must however either allow something gratis or else have a minimum payment.
Q-We could always depend on getting money for our water. It will always be
wanted.
A-It will always be wanted, but the meter system is the right one. As to these details, they affect Europeans more than they affect the Chinese, but a inere handful of Europeans won't do much harm. Probably, the minimum allowance is too great. I take it that two-thirds or even three-fourths of the Peak population are Chinese.
The Chairman.-So far as we know, the bulk of the population at the Peak is Chinese.
A-Well, 25 cents to cover all Mr. THURBURN's coolies, etc., is very little. There must be extravagant use of water, because these coolies, whatever they may be, don't use 15 gallons per day. He himself and the other members of the mess may use perhaps thirty gallons, but the Chinese coolies can't use it, if they try.
By Mr. Thurburn.-There is the other way of taking the water out of Chi- nese houses in the town altogether and making them go to the street hydrants.
The Chinese pay rates,
A-Well, I am not quite sure about the equity of that. and I don't quite see why they should not enjoy a water-supply like other people. They have been admitted to general rights like other people. They pay rates and I think pay taxes like other people and, unless you allow them a reasonable amount of water, how are they to be kept clean?
By Mr. Shewan.--If you take it out of the houses, you could give them the option of having a meter, or else using the street hydrants ?
A-That would meet the case very well. Landlords can't be troubled going to sec after the water. I am sorry that the original Bill did not pass.
I have a copy of my original draft somewhere.
By Mr. Thurburn.-In the poorer districts of a large town at Home, is the hydrant system carried out, or is the water laid on to the houses, as a rule?