IV.
- 10 -
106
valuation being useless as a guide; but the possibility of eventually establishing such a basis of charge might be further examined after the ner Water Department is
established.
Separate Metering of floors.
13. The main object of this proposal is to secure closer control of the consumption of water by enabling the responsib- ility to be placed on the "principal tenant" of each floor in Chinese tenement houses instead of the landlord. The fomacr
is in a better position to vent waste and it is unfair that landlords should have to mar rith no effective means of controlling what their tenants use. It is proposed that separate meters should be installed on the request of land- lords or in other cases where the Water Authority thinks it I made on the 1 lord's roquest he should pay
necessary.
the cost of installation.
14. It is not essential to separate metering that the water charges should be actually paid by the tenant instead of the landlord but it is obvious further step to prevent waste. Where separate meters are installed therefore the charge should in future be on the tenant, but landlords should be required to make my cossary deposits if temmoS failed to do so.
15. The change ought not, however, to be used to securo a monetary benefit to the 1dlord. I the main the adjust- ment between landlord
it must be left to ordinary
commend that in announcing the
Goverment should make it clear
just their rents in
resort Government nay resc
my luas lord who is shown to his om benefit.
economic forces but I woul
change of incidence of C
that landlords erc cxructor
consequence and that in the to install separate meters for have used the change solely