Importast decisions in connection with the surcharge on water supplied by the Shanghai Waterworks Ca, Ltd, were passed at a meeting of the Chinese Ratepayers Association held in the Greater Shanghai Chinese General Ohiamber of Commerce. It was agreed that the Association azd the Chinese community should remain unanimous in their opposition to the collection of the surcharge on water supplied and that a formal demand should be lodged for a revision of the agreement entered into between the Waterworks Ca. and the Shanghai Municipal Council, The Chinese ratepayers are opposing the surcharge on three grounds That the Company's expenses: are excessly That the guaranteed interest is too high: and That the Company have failed to install water meters in the Settlement, Waterworks Ca, In some cases was explained, Chinese residents had approached the Waterworks Ca. with suggestion that water meters should be installed in. their. shops or their homes but the Company refused to comply with their ve~ quests on the ground thet the installation of such will take two or three years. It was claimed yesterday by various speakers that the real reason is that the Company can collect more water rates meters are mot installed: should such: meters be installed in the Settlement, the Company will not be able to. collect as much in the way of revenue as they have done in the past, In conclusion, it was decided that should the Company cut off water supply as a result of the sal of the Chinese residents to pay the increased rates, an emergency meeting will be' called by the Chinese Rftepayers Association to discuss the question, The last point is considered to be of the greatest importance in that, in Chinese territory, the Chapei Waterworks Ca. have installed such meters whilst the Settlement company has failed to do this. It is stated that the reason why this is not done in the Settlement is chat house rents in Chapei wre comparatively low whilst, those in the Settlement are much higher which means that the collection of water rates, in the Settlement, in proportion to house rents is proving very profitable to the Shanghai In this connection, Mr, W.
Walter, secretary and' deputy manager of the Shanghai Water works Con, Lud, writes:—Your issue of this morning under the caption "Surcharge on the Water Rates" contains the statement that the Company held in abeyance the collection of the increased rates until auditors appointed by Chinese organizations could examine the books.
This is not the case, The sur-change was sanctioned by the Municipal Council: it hax been added to debit notes for September and subsequent months and the in" creased rates axe being collected,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.