MR. STANLEYsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for the Home De- 518 partment if it is his intention, now the Reform Bill is withdrawn, to bring in his Bill this Session, to enforce a uniform Valuation of Lands and Tenements in England? The right hon. Gentleman stated some time since that he had a Bill prepared for procuring an equal valuation of all the property in England, and that he did not lay it on the table owing to the pressure of business—alluding as he (Mr. Stanley) understood to the Reform Bill— which he said was likely to take up the whole time of the House. That Bill was now withdrawn; and the House would probably agree with him that it was of the greatest importance that a Bill for a more perfect valuation of property should be introduced in case another Reform Bill was brought in proposing a rating franchise, such a valuation would be absolutely necessary.
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, he was quite prepared at once to introduce the Bill for the Amendment of the parochial valuation; but he feared, though the Reform Bill had been withdrawn, there was little prospect, from the pressure of business, of bringing the Valuation Bill under the consideration of the House. He wished, however, to caution the House against the expectation that the Bill would establish one uniform system of valuation, similar to that of Ireland. As long as the English system was parochial it was impossible it could be so uniform as one established under a single Government Board.