The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-26 00:00:00

TAXATION.

Last night a meeting was held at Mydde!ton-
ball, Idiegton, for the purpose of advocating a large
reduction of expenditure and remission of taitation.
Alderman LINK, M.P., who occupied the chair, ob-
served that the national expenditure in the ten years
:tr.lB-17 was 503,X0r4Y.101.; and in the ten years IMs.:i7
(including the Crimean war), 5!Wi,414,0001.; whereas during
the hat ten years it had been 1idg,105,000/. The army
estimates in 11,ct'i were 5,656.0001.: and in 1K,:". (during the
Crimean war) they were 13,721,00 N.; whereas now in a
period of profound peace they were 15,480,000/. Hence he
inferred that things were not so well managed ma they
ought to be. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. A. WAl.kaa then moved " That In the opinion of
this meeting the national taxation has for many years
peat been greatly in exec.'s of the real requirements of the
state, that it is extravagantly expended, inadequately
accounted for, and might be most materially reduced
without impairing the efficiroey of the public service, and
that considering the distress now prevalent in many
districts, it is a serious evil requiring the immediate atten-
tion of parliament, with a view to secure a large remission
of the taxation which now presses so heavily upon the
people." (Cheats.)

Et.r seconded the motion, and it was enpportf d by

.
Mr. JOIIN Nome, who said that the House of Commons
would nit be so ready to vote extravagant sums of money
if they felt that they were taxing themselves, and not the
working classes. (Cheers.) If the land noe bore what it
did in the reign of Charles 11., namely, one-third of the
public burden, instead of, as at present, one sixty.seeond
part, we should soon bear of a reduction of expenditure.
(Cheers) But the House of Commons was a house of land.
lords, of naval and =daisy officers, of lawyers, and of
plecemen in ease or in posse. (Hear, hear.)
The motion was then agreed to.

Mr. Towns, M.P., moved a resolution expressing
satisfaction at the formation of a metropolitan amociation
for advocating • large reduction of expenditure and remis-
sion of taxation. In doing this the bon. gentleman said
it was not possible for any government to reduce expendi-
ture unless the people made them. The country was w the
position of a man that bad an extravagaat wife ; it mat-
tered not how bard he worked Lis income would always
be spent utiless he was at home to watch it. (A laugh.)
The time was rooming whoa the people would have
more power to attend to this matter ; and the
question which they hail now to consider was what would
be the best use to which to apply it. There was • sound
in the air that, if not next year, in a year or two, that
grossest of all inequalities, inequality of creed, must come
iou (Cheers.) In the mean time, we had to deal with
inequality of position, produced by excessive taxation;
for if the taxes fell equally upon all sorts and conditions
of men, there would soon be an end to extravaganoe. lie
avowed himself a convert to Mr. Cobden's theory that the
only way to reduce extravagance was to put a check on
taxation. for so long as there was mossy to spend, depend
upon it the money would be spent. (Cheers.) It was
very unkind in Mr. Noble to talk about the number of
lawyers in the House of Commons ; but there were worse
members than lawyers, and they were those who sever
did a stroke of work in their lives, but wbo had gone into
the business of helping themselves out of the taxes of the
.
people. The only mode wLich those persons could be put
down was for constituencies themselves to insist on
greater frugality ; and he therefore congratulated the
meeting on the formation of a society which would enable
them to give expression to their wishes. (Chests.) Mr.
Torrens, in particular, pointed out as a sound of useless.
and even pernicious expenditure, the military garrisons of
our colonies ; and he strongly advised the neutralisation
of Canada by withdrawing every English soldier from
British North America. (Cheers.) It would be a lament-
able thing if in the new parliament there were not a larger
number of persons representing the thought and reflection
of the country, and therefore prepared to support the mow-
mic reformers. By sending to Westminster men of that
character the working classes would give the best answer
to their detractors. (Cheers.)
Mr. BOLTON seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously and • petition to parliament wee also
adopted. . .

Sete of thanks to the chairman concluded the
' business.

MR. GLADSTONE'S COMPULSORY CHURCH.
BATE ABOLITION RILL.

PAILS.
TOR THZ TIFIRD LADINO. AGAINST 71111 THIRD mime.
Mr. T. 11. Poirot Lord H.
Mr. H Foley Mr. 1. ltr•
sir F. Gold amid Mr. Malcolm
Mr. W. Martin Colonel Bedard
Mr W. Hutt Mr. H. L Sorter:o
W. Lord C. J. Hamilton
. 1
Sir W.
]tr. A Osborne Illr laircah
Mr. C. 011ptit Captain Sorter*
Mr. C. rohiewle Mr F. 111Biante
Mr. B. Beamisop Mr. C. Bagman
Mr. J. Henley colonel Bomenet
Mayer Gavin Colonel North
Mr. White Mr. Campbell
Mr. Span Mr. Conon,
Mr T. Batman Colonel 11. Cole
Lord Andover Sir 1L Laren.

Tors Now llirrvinsm CLos.—The large build-
bag in St. James's street, derrigmed for the New Crdversity
Ohdr, is rapidly Approaching completion, sad will shortly
be reedy for the reception of members. It is in the Vow-
timxoothio lAA of arebitecture, and is from the dengue
of Yx. Waterhouse.
" Booing need your Pain Killer in my own
family, sea been intimately aoqcsinted with it in Australia
for 13 yews, whamming in numnrous lasisitern the mar.
e Oats power it hem over dims*, I was led ea my Myra
to recommend it to my neighbours sad Mends, end it is
now extenively mod bare, sad giving satire eatisfacticm.
z ether
ustshell&iirhermarniem,xesstatedlt sh ,iest
by it. —burs. CmiFrinalirttedsido, Aliewasen.
410. A I . .To Pun Dave Sem, It
row; Ilkbent." Rome analas without tbelril
r • c mu's," oa Sae gomenmeat einatp,--(Adel.