The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-12 00:00:00

REFORM STATISTICS.

Mr. LOCKE asked whether the government would pro
duce the atatistics referred to by the noble vim:aunt (Lord
Cranborne) u having been laid before the cabinet a fort-
night since.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—No papers
have been laid before the cabinet which have not been laid
upon the table of the house. I believe there is no new
information. The house is in possession of all the
information which the cabinet have. I have, however,
given instructions that for the convenience of hon. mem-
bers certain information shall be prepared and printed. I
regret that that has not been done yet, and I am unable
to account for the delay. Probably it has arisen from a
desire to impart some additional information, but I will
try to ascertain what is the reason of it.
Mr. HORSMAN—We understood from the noble lord
that certain figures were given to him and other members
of the cabinet upon which they were to form their opi-
nion. He stated that those papers' at first sight, ap-
peared to be favourable ; but that on closer examination
they did not. (Order.) What I want is, that this house
should know what the figures were which led the noble
lord and the other seceding members of the cabinet to that
conclusion. (Order.) lam perfectly in order, but I will
conclude with a motion. (Hear, hear.) I think it is very
desirable that, as we are approaching very nearly the time
when we shall have to mina ler their measure, we should
have the fullest information that the government can give
us. What my hon. friend asks, and what I think
we are entitled to have, is that the figures which were
laid before the cabinet, and to which the noble
lord referred as enabling him to form an opinion
bearing upon the proposed measure, should also be sub-
mitted to us. It is obvious that out of the information
laid upon the table certain figures were extracted, em-
bodied in some form or other, and submitted to the noble
lord. It would be very desirable that the house should
also have that information laid before it. I beg to move
that the house do now adjourn.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—Whatever
information was placed before the cabinet will be placed
before this bowie, though I believe there is nothing novel
in it. It is possible that some further information may be
furnished, and it will be in the hands of hon. members
very shortly.
Viscount CRANBORNE—It is necessary, in order to
clear up my statement, that I should say I certainly under-
stood that when certain figures were laid before the cabinet
they had been obtained from the various departments. I
understood them also to be new. Of course, in that I
may have been mistaken. They were excessively scanty,
and few in number. The investigations of which. I spoke
were mainly directed to comparing those figures (which
were in the nature of sums total) with the detailed infor-
mation cnatained in the voluminous returns laid before
this house last year.
The motion for adjournment was then withdrawn.
VALUATION OF PROPERTY BILL.

On the second reading of Mr. Hunt's Valuation of
Property Bill,
Colonel BARTTELOT criticised its provisions with
some severity, and expressed a strong conviction that it
was unnecessary, as the natural progress of events was
leading to a complete re-valuation of property.
Mr. NEATE called the attention of borough members to
the over-valuation of houses in towns ea compared with
those in the country.
Mr. HENLEY predicted that the scheme in the bill
would be a perpetual blister on the British tax-payer, and
would sttbiect him to all manner of worry and vexation.
It was entirely unnecessary, as the government officers had
already means at their command for increasing assessments
where it was needed. He complained of the machinery of
the bill as cumbrous and complicated.
Lord HENLEY indicated serious defects in the bill, but
was of opinion that a select committee could make a
useful measure out of it.

il;:oHTLl)iltSapievived the objects of the bill, but,
thinking some of its machinery clumsy and unworkable,
suggested that it should be referred to a select committee.
The bill was supported by Mr. Corranoe, Mr. Goldney,
Mr. H. Seymour, and Sir M. H. Beach.
Mr. VILLIERS remarked that no ground had been laid
for establishing so costly and elaborate an apparatus for
stimulating the action of his Union Assessment Act, which
he believed was working well.

Mr. HUNT maintained that the bill would relieve the
taxpayer from much trouble, as he showed by describing
the numerous appeals through which owners of property
had to pass at present. He defended the machinery of
the bill generally, but consented to refor it to a select
committee.

After some remarks from Mr. RZAD and Colonel Gm-
FIN, the bill was read a second time and ordered to be re-
fened to a select committee.