The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-09 00:00:00

CROYDON POLICE.

At the meeting of the Bench of Magistrates at Croydon, on
Monday, an application was made by Mr. Turner, the Chair-
man of the Board of Surveyors of Highways, for the decision
of the Bench as to the liability of the building used as the
Croydon Literary and Scientific Institution to be rated.
The Board, it appeared, had rated Mr. Westall, the Secre-
tary, and Mr. R. Russell attended on his behalf to oppose
the rate. _ _

Mr. Turner addressed the Magistrates, 11essrs. Reid, Adams,
and Lucas, briefly, and said that the Board sought to recover
from Mr. Westall the sum of Bs. 4d., being the amount of rate
made in June. 1841, upon the premises used as the Croydon
Literary awl Scientific Institution. They considered
that there was such a beneficial eceupation of those
premises as rendered them liable to be assessed
to the rate ; and they therefore felt it their duty,
in justice to the other-'parishioners, to levy it. If, how-
ever, the Magistrates should be of opinion that such property
was not liable to be rated, they would, of course, willingly
abandon the claim.

Mr. Russell, in opposition to the rate, said that the ques-
tion involved in the present proceeding was one of some import-
ance to all institutions of a similar character that were esta-
bli•hed throughout the country; and he trusted the Bench
would come to the deci ion, that property of this description
was not liable to be assessed, either to the highway or any other
rate. The Magistrates were aware that the institution was sup •
ported by a number of gentlemen, each of whom subscribed
a certain sum, for the purpose of affording mutual facilities for
the acquisition of knowledge within the strictest limits of mo-
rality; they neither derived, nor desired to derive, any advantage
from the institution, and none of the Members resided on the
premises, or made any other use of them than was necessary for
the purposes of the institution. Under such circumstances,
he submitted to the Bench that there was not such a benefi-
cial occupation, either by the Secretary or any of the members,
of these premises, as would render them liable to be rated. Ile
reminded the Bench that there was no pretit made by the So-
ciety. They had no income, and all the amount of subscrin-
Cons that was received was expended for purposes of a public
nature.

3lr. Adams said that a beneficial occupation did net at all
i,nply that it should be a profitable one, and he said that if the
rates could only be levied upon property that yielded a profit,
be f,ared that they should have to relieve a great many persons
from ply'ng the rates. The consequence of there being no profit
derived had nothing to do with the question. It was clear that
the memhe, s occupied those premises for their own purposes,
and they were, therefore, liable to contribute to the rates.
31r. Rtthell said that he had felt it his duty, under the pecu-
liar circumstances, to make the objections he had ; but as the
Magistrates thought that the law was against them, the mem-
bers of the Institution would willingly bow to their decision.

The BENCH said that in law -there could be no doubt that
institutions of this description were liable to the payment of
the rates, but at the same time intimated their opinion, that it
might be a matter for the consideration of the surveyors and
other parish officers, whether property of this description might
not be left out of the rate.
The usual order for payment was then made and the parties
retired.