The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-23 00:00:00

FRIDAY

be preferred day after day for English relief to Irish
distress.

The principle of an Irish national rate for the sup-
port of the Irish poor—a rate levied on every descrip-
tion of property, according to the true intent and
meaning of the 431 Elizabeth, c. 2, would alone be
sufficient to meet the difficulty—and to do full justice
to the Irish landowners. Why should any who have
the ability be exempted from the charge ? Why
should the mortgagors or the annuitants who derive
incomes from land be exonerated, while the nominal
proprietor, who in too many instances is little better
than an agent for their benefit, is crushed by the
overwhelming burden? It is neither just nor equit-
able that such should be the case, and an immediate
remedy should be applied.
The Government recommendation, to which we
alluded on Monday last, partially supplies the
defect. It recognizes the principle of a maximum
rate, beyond which no demand shall be made.
When the rates of an electoral district shall exceed
ss. in the pound, the surplus shall be collected from
the union at large to the extent of 2s. in the pound,
and the balance, if any, is to be provided by a na-
tional rate of 6d. in the pound, to be levied on all the
real property of Ireland. All further demands are
to he defrayed from the Imperial exchequer. The
period during which the national rate in aid is to be
resorted to is to be limited to two years. We can-
not understand upon what ground this limitation is to
be made. If the principle is just and beneficial,
why should it be suffered to expire so speedily—why
should it not be perpetuated?

The Hon. Member for Dublin, who has already
acquired so high a character for ability and intelli-
gence, and for his thorough knowledge of the wants
and exigencies of his country, has given notice of a
resolution which will this day be submitted for the
consideration of the Committee. He proposes—
" That for the purpose of augmenting the fund pro-
posed to be raised Ly a rate in aid of sixpence in the
pound from all property rated to the relief of the desti-
tute poor in Ireland for the next two years, the same
rate should be charged upon all salaries paid to Govern-
ment officers, and upon all income-derived from the pub-
lic funds, being not less than 1501. per annum in both
eases, and that all moneys derived from the tax at pre-
sent collected in England on income derived from Ire-
land, be for the next two years applied to the same
fund."

This is a step in the right direction. It is a manifest
improvement on the Ministerial suggestion. Why
should the Irish fundholder evade the responsibility
of contributing towards the relief of the poor ? He
is not called upon to pay the income-tax upon his
receipts, to which every person in this country is
liable. He could not, therefore, complain if a smaller
tax were imposed, and to what nobler purpose could
the proceeds be applied than in relieving the suffering
and destitute poor ? The latter portion of the resolu-
tion is also founded on justice. Seven or eight
million pounds per annum at the lowest computation
is annually drawn from Irish resources, and expended
in this country. It would be but fair if the sums
levied on incomes derived from Ireland should
for a time at least be devoted to the support of the
Irish poor. We trust that Mr. REYNOLDS'S valuable
suggestion may be adopted by Committee, and con-
firmed by Parliament, if the still more important
measure of a national rate, and a general equaliza-
tion of the burden, should not be adopted.