The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-02 00:00:00

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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
JUVENILE OFFENDERS BILL.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)

On clause 15 being proposed,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he rose to ex-
plain the reason why the Committee had adopted the
course they had done on this matter. They considered
that if they gave full costs they would be encouraging
prosecutions, and it they gave none they would be sup-
pressing prosecutions, and therefore they thought it
right to steer a middle course.
Alter some conversation the clause was agreed to.
The remaining clause 4 of the Bill were agreed to, and
the report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow.
POOR AND HIGHWAY RATES EXEMPTION.
On the motion fer tt e second reading of this Bill,
Mr. P. SCROPE said that the principle of this Bill
should be applied to local as well to general
taxation. It had been found extremely diffi-
cult to collect rates from the poor, and by the
24th of George 111 the poorer occupier was exempted
from the payment of local taxes. The result of not
adopting this course had been productive of the greatest
inconvenience and expense. He proposed to apply the
same simple process with respect to the collection of the
local rates that was in operation with respect to the col-
lection of the general rates. He thought the system
of taxation should be placed upon a regular footing.
He concluded by quoting an extract from a work of Mr.
Pigot, stating that in the south of England, whilst the
population was increasing at the rate of 200,000 a year,
cottages were decreasing. Poor families were obliged
to use one room in common, and it was the duty of the
House to afford them an opportunity of having two
or more rooms, to encourage the building of cottages,
and so promote the comfort and happiness of the indus-
trious portion of the people. Speculators in house
buildings were frequently aspersed, but he considered
that they were public benefactors.
Sir GEORGE GREY agreed with his Hon. Friend
that increased cottage accommodation should be afforded
to the poor, bat he did not think the Bill would accom-
plish this object. He had referred to the evidence of
Mr. Pigot, but he seemed to have forgotten that the
greater number of small cottages were exempt from the
payment of rates. Then, if it were passed, a direct en-
couragement would be given to speculators in house
property. By it the assessing of cottages to pay rates
would be left on a very uncertain basis, because it would
rest; upon the amount paid for rent and upon the evi-
dence of surveyors at Quarter Sessions. He thought,
therefore, that it would introduce many evils, and
as he strongly objected to it, he felt it his
duty to urge upon the House not to accede to the second
reading.
The motion having been put,
Mr. WAKLEY said it appeared to him that the Bill
would not accomplish the object which the Hon. Gentle-
man had in view. It was true that the poor were un-
duly rated, and that the rich were in many cases exempt.
—(" Hear, hear," from Mr. Scrope.) But the Hon. Gen-
tleman seemed to forget that the cottages, in but few
instances, belonged to the parties who occupied them ;
that they belonged often to rich persons, and they screwed
them down to pay an exorbitant rent. The subject,
however, was fraught with many difficulties ; and he
trusted that thejilon. Gentleman, who had brought for-
ward the Bill with the best motives, would withdraw it,
and that the Government would bring forwaid a Bill on
the subject in a future session of Parliament.—(Hear.)
Sir J. PAKINGTON said his Hon. Friend the Mem-
ber for Suffolk had brought forward a Bill on the same
subject, but it was opposed by the Government, and now
when the lion. Gentleman the Member for Stroud
mooted a similar measure, he also was opposed. The
poor throughout the whole country were suffering
much from the present state of the law, and he
trusted that the Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir G. Grey)
wculd take the -whole suhject into his consideration,
and in a future session introduce a measure to remedy
the existing evils.

Colonel WOOD quoted an extract from the evidence
of Mr. Gulson, to show the injurious effect of exempting
cottages from the payment of rates. It was to
the effect that a considerable sum of money was
borrowed by parties from the corporation of Coventry
for the purpose of building cottages for the poor.
The parties made 12. per cent. out of them, because
they were exempt from the rates, and they charged
Id. and 2d. more for some of them in consequence of
this exemption. The result was, that a rate of 17s. 61.
in the pound was levied upon other persons, who loudly
complained of the heavy tax thus placed upon them,
whilst an immense number of cottages of this kind were
entirely exempt from the payment of rates.
Mr. P. SCROL'E said, after what had passed he should
withdraw the Bill, but in doing so, he trusted that the
Government would take the subject into their own hands.
Bill withdrawn accordingly.
MEDICAL REGISTRATION AND MEDICAL
LAW AMENDMENT BILL.
Mr. WAKLEY beeged leaved to postpone this Bill,
as the evidence taken before the Memlical Committee
was not prepared. He did believe that a very valuable
report would be laid before the House in the course of a
few days.

The 8.11 was then postponed till Monday week.
Mr. WAKLEY moved that all petitons presented
for or against the Bill, should be referred to the Select
Committee.—Agreed to.