The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-03-27 00:00:00

3IISCELLANEMS.

Mr,. Picton gave notice of his intention to move a
resolution in favour of passing, at the earliest moment,
an Act establishing a uniform system of registered
manhood suffrage throughout the United Kingdom.
—ln answer to Mr. David Smith, Mr. H. Fowler said
there were objections to the periodical publication of
a list of persons and firms who have registered tele-
graphic addresses at the General Post Office.—ln reply
to an inquiry by Mr. Ritchie, Mr. Duff stated that two
persons had been killed and two others seriously in-
jured by the bursting of one of the Nordenfelt guns on
board her Majesty's ship Albatross.
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LOCAL TAXATION.
Mr. Rogers moved a resolution objecting to the first
incidence of local taxation falling on the occupier and
not on the owner, and declaring that the system of
rating country mansions, and the immunity of the
owners of ground-rents in towns from rates, is unfair.
In the course of some discursive remarks he enlarged
upon the necessity of a general revision of the system
of local taxation, and insisted that owners should be
called upon ,o pay at least a share of the expenses
which in reality maintained and improved the value of
their property.—Mr. Picton, in seconding the motion,
contended that lent ought not to be the criterion of
rateable value, and that the prosent system of local
taxation was unjust and engendered discontent,
especially among the trading classes.—Sir R. Paget
moved an amendment to the effect that the financial
injustice complainea of can only be removed by a corn'
prehensive measure, and that an equitable readjustment
of taxation as between real and personal property is
required. lie pointed out that if mansions were to be
made liable to local taxation, as suggested, the principle
would have to be extended to all kinds of personal pro-
perty, which he maintained was out of the question,
and he went at some length into figures to show that
real property already bore more than its fair share of
Imperial taxation.—Mr. More seconded the amend-
ment.—Mr. Rathbone regretted that the well-to-do
dissociated themselves as much as possible from the
management of local affairs.—Mr. A. Jones dilated on
the injustice of taxing mansions merely at their rent-
able value, and Mr. Everett advocated the taxation of
pictures, plate, and other valuable chattels.—Sir J.
Kennaway supported the amendment, and Mr. Far-
quharson, on the same side, insisted on the necessity of
an immediate readjustment of the burdens of local
taxation.—Mr. Brenton, speaking from the Liberal
benches, supported the amendment because he thought
it would lead to a more speedy treatment of the
question, and advocated the rating of personal pro.
perty.—Mr. A. E. Pease, while supporting the motion,
deprecated unfair rating of mansions; and Captain
Cotton urged that the condition of agriculture required
relief froni unfair local taxation.—Mr. Duncombe spoke
in the same strain of urgency, and remarked that it was
only when a Conservative Government was in office
that any attempt was made to do justice to the agricul-
tural interest. —Mr. Ambrose condemned the resolution
as impracticable and calculated to create bad feeling
between landlord and tenant.—Mr. Chamberlain said
be was in the happy position of agreeing with everybody
and of being ready to accept both motion and amend-
ment, though not all the arguments by which they had
been supported. Though he did not anticipate
much practical result • from it, he thought that a
Sense of justice would be satisfied in placing a
portion of the rates on the landlords, and as to
the rating of mansions, he pointed out that to rate
them at their cost value would lead to the btutting
up or pulling down of many historic houses. But he
thought an arrangement might be made on the basis of
an assessment at 4 per cent. of the selling value. While
adhering to the opinion that personal property should
be made contributable to rates, he maintained that the
burdens on land had not increased materially during
the last century, and any relief which was given would
be felt more by town than country. Although declin-
ing to anticipate the proposals of the Local Govern-
ment Bill, he discussed various methods of affording
this relief, intimating that he had given up the idea of
a local income-tax, which he once entertained, and
pronouncing strongly against subventions, which,
he contended, led to increased local expen-
diture. Whatever assistance was given to the
local authorities should be direct, and should
not be dependent in any way
.to proportionate
local expenditure In concluding he adv-sed

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that both motion and amendment should be with.
drawn.—Mr. A. J. Balfour spoke in support of the
amendment, and regretted that the Government had
given no intimation when they would bring in their
promised measure for the reform of local government.
He ridiculed the idea of taxing property upon the
basis of its original cost, but agreed with the view
that meny wealthy persons evaded their fair share of
taxation.

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A division being taken the amendment was nega.
tived by 205 to 186.
Sir M. Hicks-Beach reproached the Government with
having voted against Sir R. Paget, notwithstanding Mr.
Chamberlain's speech, and after an animated but some-
what contused discussion as to the form in which the
question was put, the House divided again, and Mr.
Rogers's motion was affirmed by 216 to 176.

THE GOVERNMENT FACTORIES.

Mr. Carbutt next called attention to the administra-
tion of the Ordnance Department and moved for the
appointment of a committee to inquire into the whole
question of guns and the working of the factories at
Woolwich, Enfield, and Birmingham.—Mr. Ruston
seconded the motion, and after some remarks from
Colonel Nolan, Mr. Campbell-Bannerman raid the sub-
ject had been considered by a committee appointed by
the late Liberal Government and deprecated any
further inquiry into it.
The motion was then withdrawn.
SCHOOL OF FORESTRY.

On the motion of Sir J. Lubbock, it was agreed to
appoint b Select Committee to consider whether, by the
establishment a a school of forestry or otherwise, our
woodlands could be rendered more remunerative.

SCHOOL FEES OF NON-PAUPERS.
The School Fees of Non-Paupers Bill was read a
second time, and, some other business having been
dispose,i of, ths House adjourned at ten minutes past
one o'clock.