THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
257
In conclusion he would recommend, to all who were interested in the subject,
the perusal of an article in the Surveyor of December 13th, which pointed
out in a somewhat vigorous manner many of the difficulties fresh legislation would
have to deal with, and laid bare the evils of the present system or, rather,
want of system in the administration of the law.
Dr. H. R. Mill, the rainfall expert, who was unable to attend the con-
ference, wrote applauding the idea of a Government Water Department, and
suggested that the artificial divisions of county boundaries should be dispensed
with in dealing with water problems and that river basins should be
substituted.
Sir Alexander Pedler, F.R.S., as a member of the British Science Guild,
said they were most grateful to the Essex Field Club for having taken up the
matter. It was the first of a number of meetings which he hoped would be held
on the subject. He hoped that no form of legislation would be introduced
which would make the work of manufacturers harder than necessary. He moved
the following resolution :—
" That this meeting having heard the expert testimony of many qualified
speakers interested in the improvement of the state of our rivers, streams, and
water-ways, it is of opinion that legislative action is urgently needed, and would
regard with satisfaction the creation of a Central Authority under Government
for dealing with the general question of water supply throughout the kingdom,
as well as with the disposal of sewage and of effluents from factories ; such
Central Authority to be given power to apportion expenditure on sewage treat-
ment or other necessary work of purification amongst the communities deriving
benefit from such expenditure."
The resolution was seconded by Mr. E. Barnard, M.P., carried unani-
mously, and ordered to be transmitted to the Local Government Board and the
British Science Guild.
The President, in closing the meeting, added a few remarks on the under-
ground waters of Essex. He said that the deep-well water supply was near its
limit and that consequently the subject of Rivers Pollution would become
increasingly important, because sooner or later we should have to draw upon the
rivers for our water.
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.—REPORTS OF
MEETINGS.
THE 260th ORDINARY MEETING.
Saturday, December 14TH, 1907.
Previous to the Conference Meeting on Rivers Pollution, reported on
pages 253—57, an Ordinary Meeting was held at the Technical Institute, Mr.
Miller Christy, F.L.S., President, in the chair.
New Members.—The following were elected members :—
Montague E. Hughes-Hughes, Esq.. Leez Priory, Chelmsford.
Dr. Percy Warner, "Rydal," Woodford Green, Essex.
The President announced that their late member, Mr. Chalkley
Gould, F.S.A., had bequeathed the collection of objects from the Romano-
British Settlement at Chigwell, now on exhibition at the Forest Museum,
Chingford, to the Club.