The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-12 00:00:00

PERSONAL PAYMENT OF RATES.

At a meeting of advanced Liberals held at Nor-
wich on Thursday night, to concert measures for the
future political organisation of the working classes,
the following letter was read from Mr. Gladstone :
" Ilawarden, Oct. 8.
" Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter, and to state in reply that my
opinion on those provisions of the Reform Act
which bear upon the subject of rates have been
fully and frequently declared during the debates
last session ; and to those debates I must refer
you rather than to any succinct summary of them
such as I could now convey. I have no objection
however, to state that those provisions, although
better than others which stood in the bill as it was
at first introduced, are still of a most inconvenient
and annoying character, and likewise that they
would admit of great and effectual amendment.
These are the opinions which up to this time I have
seen no reason to change, and I shall look with in-
terest to the evidence the autumn and winter may
supply with respect to the feelings of those whose
practical experience of the subject in their several
neighbourhoods will be likely to command public
attention, and, if I am correct in my views, speedy
redress.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" W. E. GLADSTONE."
The following letter from Mr. E. Warner, M.P.,
dated " Paris, Oct. 5," was also read.

6, Dear Sir,—Your letter, enclosing report of
compound householders' meeting, has only just been
forwarded to me. lam not surprised at the strong
feeling expressed against the clauses of the Repre-
sentation of the People Act, which require per-
sonal payment of rates ...... Ido not
believe that the case can be dealt with by simply
attempting to repeal the provisions in question.
The framers of the present Act decided wisely,
as I think, to reject in the case of the borough
franchise all fixed lines of rating or rental
which had been the chief cause of the mis-
carriage of former attempts. Having done this
it became necessary for them to devise means for
maintaining connection between taxation and re-
presentation which had been indirectly provided for
under the old system, and which has always been
acs

4epted as an essential principle of constitutional
government. Very unfortunately, as it appears to
me, although perhaps unavoidable, they stumbled
on the principle of personal rating. I be-
lieve that a more consistent arrangement
would have been possible, and I regret it
was not attempted; but I am not prepared to say
that any such scheme could have been carried
without alterations in the system of national taxa-
tion. Esteeming it, as I do, a great honour to have
taken part in the passing of the wise and liberal
measure of the past session, I am not blind to its
defects, least of all to those which your committee
are exerting themselves to remove. For the reasons
I have given, I think our course is by no means
plain or easy ; but if any plan can be suggested for
attaining your object which appears reasonable and
constitutional it will have my earnest support. —I
am, sir, yours faithfully,

" EDWARD WARNER."

ASSESSED TAXES. —A question was raised yester-
day at the Finsbury Registration as to the payment of
assessed taxes to qualify a person to be placed on the list of
voters, and a decision given by Mr. Bacon, the Revising
Barrister, which will form a precedent. A ratepayer
was excluded from the list as a defaulter fur assessed
taxes, and ho now claimed to be inserted. He pro-
duced his receipt for the taxes, dated tho 23d of July.
The Revising Barrister said the 20th of July was the last
day allowed by the Act. The applicant stated that he
attended on that day, and was told that ho could not pay
the money, as it was not one of the days appointed. The
Revising Barrister held that as the taxes were tendered oa
the 20th he should insect the name on the list. A case had
occurred before him at the Marylebone Registration, where
the taxes were sent on the 20th of July and refused, as the
collector was engaged. Mr. Layton, the vestry clerk of
St. Mary, Islington, in whose district the applicant re-.
sided, said ho was glad the question had been decided —it
was a marvel to him that collectors appointed particular
days for the receipt of money, to the inconvenience Of the
public. The Revising Barrister considered that, as the
taxes were tendered on the 20th of Julys the cletutaut was
entitled to be placed olt the register,