HC Deb 22 July 1844 vol 76 cc1253-5

The Land Tax Commissioners' Names Bill having been read a third time,

Lord Worsley

said, that out of the seventeen names put in as Commissioners for Lincolnshire division of Horncastle and Hill, there were twelve clergymen, of whom only four were connected with the district by property, and he had given notice of a Motion to expunge the eight who were not connected by property with the division. He was one of those who thought it was not advisable that these sort of duties should be performed at all by clergymen, and at any rate he was of opinion that persons should not be put on the list merely because they had a living or a curacy in the district. It might be asked what the duties of the appointment were? They were very analogous to those of Justices of the Peace, and the consequence was, that they would have to perform duties of an unpleasant nature with respect to those amongst whom they laboured. He found amongst their duties that they were to appoint assessors for the tax upon mines and lands, and where payment was not made to levy it by warrants of distress. He asked, then, whether it were proper that clergymen who had no property in the district, and only connected with it by their livings, should perform these duties? He had sent to the Clerk of the Commissioners eight other names of persons connected with the district by property, and duly qualified to act as Commissioners, and had asked whether there were any objection to them? To which the only answer he received was, that the Commissioners saw no reason why the names should not be retained. The names he had sent in had been inserted, but the other eight had been left in, and he now moved that they be expunged. If he were opposed he could only come to the conclusion that the Government believed that the clergy were proper persons to discharge these duties. The names were the Rev. George Thackeray Hemingly, the Rev. Edwards Walter, the Rev. Charles Terrott, the Rev. J. Fawssett, the Rev. J. Pickford, the Rev. G. Price, the Rev, J. T. Maine, and the Rev. H. Fielding.

Sir George Clerh

said, that the course proposed by the noble Lord was very unusual. The noble Lord was required by the Order of the House to send in the names of persons duly qualified; objecting to the names of these clergymen he had omitted them; but the noble Lord's Colleague, who had an equal right to send in a list, had included them, and they ought to be returned. If not duly qualified they could not act. He saw no reason why the gentlemen nominated and the colleague of the noble Lord should not act as they were qualified to do, and he hoped that in the absence of that hon. Gentleman the House would not take so unusual a course as to exclude those names.

The House divided on the question that the name of the Rev. George Thackeray Hemingly stand part of the Bill:—Ayes 34; Noes 13; Majority 21.

List of the AYES.
Ackers, J. Graham, rt. hn. J. Sir
Acland, Sir T. D. Greene, T.
Barneby, J. Herbert, hon. S.
Barrington, Visct. Hussey, T.
Baskerville, T. B. M. Jermyn, Earl
Boldero, H. G. Knight, H. G.
Borthwick, P. Lincoln, Earl of
Buckley, E. Masterman, J.
Clerk, Sir G. Nicholl, rt. hon. J.
Colvile, C. R. Pringle, A.
Cripps, W. Rushbrooke, Col.
Dickinson, F. H. Smith, rt. hn. T. B. C.
Eliot, Lord Stanley, Lord
Entwistle, W. Sutton, hon. H. M.
Forbes, W. Thesiger, Sir F.
Fremantle, rt. hn. Sir T.
Fuller, A. E. TELLERS.
Gladstone, rt. hn. W. E. Young, J.
Goulburn, rt. hn. H. Lennox, Lord A.
List of the NOES.
Brotherton, J. Talbot, C. R. M.
Gibson, T. M. Wakley, T.
Hawes, B. Wawn, J. T.
Morris, D. Williams, W.
O'Connell, M. J. Wyse, T.
Pechell, Capt. TELLERS.
Philips, M. Worsley, Lord
Rawdon, Col. Hume, J.

Bill passed.

Mr. Brotherton

moved the adjournment of the House.

Mr. Barneby

hoped that the hon. Gentleman would not press his Motion, but would allow him to make the Motion of which he had given notice.

Sir G. Clerk

hoped the hon. Member would not persist, as the Motion of his hon. Friend was only a matter of form.

Mr. Brotherton

Oh yes, I know all about it. I shall persist.

The House divided: Ayes 6; Noes 33: Majority 27.

List of the AYES.
Colvile, C. R. Wakley, T.
Gibson, T. M.
Morris, D. TELLERS
O'Connell, M. J. Brotherton, J.
Pechell, Capt. Wawn, J. T.
List of the NOES.
Ackers, J. Greene, T.
Acland, Sir T. D. Hawes, B.
Barneby, J. Herbert, hon. S.
Barrington, Visct. Hussey, T.
Baskerville, T. B. M. Jermyn, Earl
Boldero, H. G. Knight, H. G.
Borth wick, P. Lincoln, Earl of
Buckley, E. Masterman, J.
Clerk, Sir G. Pringle, A.
Cripps, W. Rushbrooke, Col.
Dickinson, F. H. Smith, rt. hn. T. B. C.
Eliot, Lord Stanley, Lord
Entwisle, W. Sutton, hon. H. M.
Forbes, W. Thesiger, Sir F.
Fremantle, rt. hn. Sir T. Worsley, Lord
Fuller, A. E. TELLERS.
Goulburn, rt. hn. H. Young, J.
Graham, rt. hon. Sir J. Lennox, Lord A.