§ General Gascoynewished to know when the new bill relative to the Asssessment of Warehouses was to be brought in, and observed, that from the reports which had gone abroad with respect to the nature of this bill, much anxiety was felt on the subject.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerhoped, that the bill alluded to would be presented to the House in a day or two. As soon as it was before the House, he should move that it be printed, as that would be the most sure mode of conveying accurate information as to the nature of the bill. It having been in several cases decided by the judges, that buildings originally erected to serve as dwelling houses, were liable to assessment as such, although afterwards converted into warehouses, the object of the bill in question was, to declare explicitly that no building should be liable to assessment which would not have been liable, if originally built for the purpose for which it was then used. It was therefore obvious that the object of the bill was by no means to lay on any new tax, but rather the reverse.
§ In the course of the evening,
§ Mr. Lushingtonmoved, "That leave be given to bring in a bill to explain and amend an act made in the 48th of his present majesty, for repealing the duties of assessed taxes, and granting new duties in lieu thereof, and to exempt such dwelling houses as may be employed for the sole purpose of trade, or of lodging goods, wares, or merchandise, from the duties charged by the said act." He repeated the explanation given by the chancellor of the exchequer, that the object of the bill would be to exempt from the operation of the tax those places that it was out of doors conceived would be affected by it, and not to impose any new tax whatever. Its object was, to exempt such offices or dwelling-houses connected with warehouses, for the sole purpose of trade.
§ Leave was given to bring in the bill.