The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-07-09 00:00:00

THE STATT.SMAN

and the abuses to which the collection of the Land Tax I
was subject; and from the inquiry lie hail since made, he
was confirmed in the representations he had then made.'
In the divisions beyond that of Middlesex, London, and
Westminster, lie should he able to show that much larger
sums were raised than the Act of Parliament warranted.
Phis arose from the neglect of the Commissioners, anti
the want of vigilance on the part of the Tait Office, which
in his opiniuu was the most useless of all Public Depart-
ments. In many and important instances the Act of
Parliament was violated. Under these circumstances
some steps should be taken to protect the public. An in-
quiry would show that the greatest laxity prevailed in
every office connected with this tax, and be contended
that it was _aotewoogh for the Treasury to be satisfied
merely because it received the quota which it antici-
pated, and to which the Act entitled it ; the public were
entitled to some protection from overcharge and extor-
tion. Scarcely any tax was more expensive in its collec-
tion, the gatherers and collectors being all overpaid. By
a reference to the printed correspondence with the Lords
of the Treesurrrelative to some practices of this kind in
the district of Kensington, they would find the Commis-
sinters themselves stating that to the year 1818, upwards
of 900/. too mach, was raised, and for 1819, upwards of
1,0001. Here then they had an admitted case of wrong,
which the Lords of the Treasury took •io steps upon. By
another account upon the table, it appeared that upwards
of 100,000/. surplus had been raised in the aggregate
collection of Middlesex,Lon.ton, and Westminster. This
was enough to establish the necessity of Inquiry, which.
although it could not be done this Session, it would be-
conic the duty of the Honer to institute next year. He
had given considerabre attention to this subject, and the
deficiency, as it appeared from the result of his investiga-
tions, lie was altnoat.afraid to state. To cover the whole
period from the first imposition of theitax, hb found a
deficiency of between seven or SOO,OOO petted&
He did not mean to lay that this sum really was deficient ;
bat he was bound to say, that it ATM corroborated by the
Finance Reports and .the Parliamentary Papers on the
table. These observations were embodied in hie Resolu-
tions. He wished particularly to point out to the House,
the inutility of the office for the Redemption of the Land-
tax, which, considering the small amount redeemed, was
not worth the expense. He also wished to point out the
practice of the Clerks of the Commissioners receiving
what was called poundage. Mr. Pitt said the collec-
tion should be made without expellee to the public, where-
as 89,0001. had been received in this nay as per cent-
age. Many Clerks of the Commissioners had no duty
to perform, and indeed their situations were complete
sinecures. The business of the Board had been so imper-
fectly executed, that it appeared one individual had
been 30 years in his situation without bearing its duties,
and had actually complained of it as a hardship when
he was requited to perferm that task, which ought never
to have been neglected. The Hon. Gentleman said, when
Parliarneil passed ad Act to relieve small livings and
charitableinstitutions from the land tax, this was made
an excuse for 'saddling the public with two or three
new salaries. Would it be believed that the small
sum of B,OOW. only bate been taken off in consequence of
the Act he had mentioned, During 1820 but X. 175. 4d.
had been taken; and in 1821 but 21. 7d., while the expense
thrown on the country by the Commissioners amounted to
4,08-11. If it were intended to exonerate certain parties,
notice ought to be given of it, and all who did not apply tot
the benefit within a limited time ought to be excluded from
it, and then the Commission might he put an end to. Lord
tilenbervie, as a Commissioner, had enjoyed an income of
0001. per annum, and another Noble Lord had had a like
income. Such expenses as these, and the others connected
with this establishment, ought, in hlsjudgment, to be spared.
Considering that a great abuse had been proved, and that a
remedy might be applied, he fell that be could not do less
than put the resolution be had framed on the Journals of the
House. lie calculated that not less than 1,300"01. had
been paid for the collection of the land tax. Lied the plan
been speedily carried into effect, a great portion of that
might be saved, and if means could be devised now for en-
couraging the public to complete its redemption, this alone
would save the country 1,000,0001. in the next nineteen or
twenty years. To his resolution on the subject ,of the re-
turns before the House he intended to add a *concluding
clause, declaring that sufficient controul bad not been exer-
cised over the Collectors—that the public were not sal-
clently protected, and that the Hone was therefore called
upon to protest them, nod remedy toe abuses proved to
exist. lie then moved his Resolutions, the first of which
set forth „that from various Returns made to that House Ica
the present and last Session of Partin:client, it appeared that
the Laud Tax of England and Wales, made permanent by
the 38th Geo. S. esp. b. was calculated at 1,999,0731. but
now produced but the sum of 1,231,168 L, theieby showing
a decrease in annual receipts amounting to 70,5051.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose to
oppose the resolution. lie admitted that the conduct of
the parties at Kensington Willi not easy to be accounted
for; they had no right to be giving dinners out of the
receipts of the laud tax, or to misappropriate it in
any other way, but the fact was that the Commission-
ers were not under the controol of the Treasury. It
had always been considered expedient, that the tax in
question should be levied by persons totally independ-
ent of the Treasury, and who should be employed
without receiving any fixed salaries.. The Right Hon.
Gentleman then went on to show that there was a great
error in the first resolution, which assumed, that places
and persons were included in the Land Tak. The Act
of 1797 certainly contained such a provision, but the
clause was repealed by the Act of 1798, the consequence
of which was that a sum amounting to 127,0001. was
never made perpetitil as part of the Land Tax. When the
Hon. M ember (Mr.l tame) had made such an error as this
at the commencement, it followed that all his deduction s
must be wrong. The Right Hon. Gentleman concluded
some further observations, by professing his readiness
to make such alterations in the existing system as the
circumstances might warrant, without, however, distinct-
ly pledging himself to any particular change.
Mr. MA BERIM, after suggesting to his Honourable
Friend to withdraw the resolutions, as they were founded
on an erroneous assumption, observed that if those Com-
iniotioners were not under the control of the Treasury, it
was high time that they should be, or that the House
should take the subject into its awn bands. He was of
opinion that the best way would be to leave the subject
to his Majesty's Ministers, who were the fittest to examine
into it; but if something was not done in it early in the
next Session, he pledged himself to bring it again before
the notice of the House.
Mr. HUME said, that as his object was for the pre-
sent answered, l.y calling the attention of Ministers to
the subject. lie would, with the leave of the House, with-
draw his resolutions.
'lke resol itions were accordingly withdrawn.
LLANELI.YCHYD SLATE QUARRIES.
Mr. Alderman WOOD, after designating the lease of
these quarries to Mr. Dawkins Pennant as a gross job on
the part of the Government, moved for the appointment
of a select 'Bee to examine into the whole of the
proceedings relative to the grant of the Crown to Lady
Penryn and Mr. Dawkins Pennant for the working of the
slate mines at Llanellvchyd,in the county of Carnarvon.
Mr. HUME seconded the motion.
The SOLIUIToItAiENERAL opposed it, contending
that there was not the slightest rea on for calling the
grant of these leas -s a Ministerial job.
Mr. HUME maintained that the motion ought to be
agreed to, as he believed it would be advantageous to the
public.
Mr. HUSKISSON agreed that no grounds were laid
for going into the proposed Committee.
Mr. 1). PENNANT opposed the motion; and
Mr. DENMAN supported it.
The ATrOKNEY-OENEKAL opposed the motion;
and after a few words from Mr. ARBUTHNOT, Alderman
WOW) replied.

The Howe dose divided, wins tierirsppiared for the
motion—
Ayes, 9-114 s, 43.—Majority against the motion, 34.
. THE CHIEF BARON O'GRft DY.
'The report of the resolutions was brought up.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL objected to placing
these resolutions (though they were simply resolutions
of fact) upon the journals, because, although no corrupt
motive could he charged against the Chief Baron, yet if
the House followed that course they would convey an im-
plied censure upon that learned Judge. He would there-
fore propose a resolution to follow the resolutions of fact
to this' ffect :—" Resolved, that it does not appear to this
Howie that there is sufficient ground to ascribe the alter-
ation of the fees in the Court of Exchequer, stated to
have been made by the Chief Baron of Ireland, to any im-
proper motive on the part of that Judge."
Mr. CANNING would not express any opinion on the
resolution proposed by the Hon. and Learned Gent. He
would rather wish the Hon. Member for Limerick would
propose a resolution.
Mr. S. RICE declared that he should have been willing,
to have followed up the resolutions of fact, by a resolu-
tion expressive of the opinion of the House ; but from
that course he had been prohibited by what lie under.
stood to be the opinion of a great number of Gentlemen.
Mr. HUME said the motion of the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman certainly was not consonant to the under-
standing which bad been come to on the subject at the
former discussion of it.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL explained.
Dr. LUSHI NG roN said he was completely taken by
surprise by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman coming
down at that hour, and moving a Resolution, which was
is fact decisive of the whole question. He trusted the
Hon. and Learned Gentleman would nat call upon the
House to come to a decision on that night.

Mr. SCARLETT said he was strongly disposed to
concur in the substance 'of the Resolution moved by the
Hon. and Learned tierrleman as he could not bat con-
ceive that the concurrence of the suitors for so many
years was pregnant evidence of the absence of any cor-
rupt motive. He would suggest to his Hon. and Learned
Friend, whether he would not add a Resolution decla-
ratory of the existence of the practice as to fees for so
long a period of time.
A conversation then took place at considerable length
between Mr. DALY, Mr. COURTENAY, Mr. PEEL,
Mr. St:AIME!' f, Mr. OGULBURN, and Mr. CAN-
NING, after which the further consideration of the
Report was adjourned to to-morrow (this day).
'Flee other Orders of the_ Day were then disposed of,
and the House adjourned at Half-past Two o'Clock.