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statutory maximum of one dollar per thousand gallons.
An amendment of the principal Ordinance was also necessary,
or at least desirable, in order to make the abolition of
the "free allowance" and the raising of the price for excess
consumption apply to the current quarter which had already
began before the decision was finally taken. In connexion
with this retrospective provision it also seemed desirable to recognise in the Ordinance what is referred to in para. 6
below as the "meter reader's quarter". The whole aim of
this proposed legislation was to check waste and encourage
economy in the use of water. As the principal Ordinance was
being amended the opportunity was taken to revise and
increase the penalties under it. This part of the present
Ordinance was also partly aimed at checking waste.
4. The water situation had improved so much towards the
end of July that it was decided to suspend the making of the
proposed regulations by which the "free allowance" would
have actually been abolished and by which the charge for
excess consumption would have been raised. The Ordinance
was, however, proceeded with, because it may still be
necessary to make the proposed regulations, and also because
some of the provisions of the Ordinance are desirable for
general reasons.
5.
Section 2 (a) (ii) of the principal Ordinance referred
to a quarterly allowance. This is the so-called "free
allowance". Section 2 of this Ordinance substitutes the
term "quarterly amount" because "allowance" suggests a
"free allowance" and that was to be abandoned temporarily.