§ Sir H. Verney moved for leave to bring in a Bill for rating the owners and not the occupants of tenements under a certain annual value. Such a measure would be a great boon to the poor. The 59th George 3rd, enabled vestries to impose rates on small tenements, but the object of the present Bill was to enable the boards of guardians to rate tenements of from 6l. to 20l. annual value to the owner, and not the occupier. The Bill did not interfere with the Parliamentary or Municipal franchise of the parties, but only with their parochial franchise.
Mr. Prymemust object to the Bill. He did not see how the measure could benefit the poor occupants, for if the owner had to pay the rates he would add them to the rent.
Sir G. Stricklandcould never approve of a principle which took away from these classes directly interested in the Poor-rates all share in their administration.
§ Mr. Sanfordsupported the Bill, though he had some doubts as to giving this new power to the boards of guardians. He would give his support to the introduction of the Bill, but its details would be matter for future consideration.
§ Mr. Wasonsaw no chance of passing the Bill this Session, so that it was a mere waste of time to proceed with it. Independently of this, however, he objected to the principle of the Bill, as they had already had experience of the evil working of a similar measure.
§ Mr. Bainessaw considerable difficulties in the way of the passing of this Bill. Suppose, for instance, a tenant refused to pay 1495 his rent, was the landlord, who was thus deprived of his rent, to be compelled to pay the rates of his tenant? He thought that this would be extremely unjust. He thought, at all events, that there was no use in occupying the attention of Parliament with this measure at this period of the Session.
§ Mr. Wakleythought, that his Majesty's Ministers ought not to enjoy a monopoly of the introduction of Bills. It was the duty of his Majesty's Ministers to support any Bills that were calculated to benefit the people. He thought that this Bill would affect parochial franchise in the election of guardians of the poor to a great degree; and he therefore hoped that if the Bill were allowed to be introduced, the House would take care to protect the franchise of those tenants who must inevitably pay the rate, although the landlord might be nominally assessed for it.
§ Mr. Aglionbysaw no chance of getting the Bill passed this Session, and therefore, although he approved of its principle, he would recommend his hon. Friend to withdraw it.
§ Mr. R. Palmerbegged to add his recommendation to the many that had already been expressed that the hon. Baronet would allow himself to be persuaded to withdraw his Bill.
§ Sir H. Verneywas unwilling to withdraw his Bill without having it printed, and he should, therefore, persist in dividing the House upon his motion.
§ The House divided:—Ayes 73; Noes 45: Majority 28.
| List of the AYES. | |
| Agnew, Sir A. | Hobhouse, Sir J. |
| Angerstein, J. | Howick, Viscount |
| Balfour, T. | Ingham, R. |
| Bannerman, A. | Lawson, A. |
| Baring, F. T. | Lee, J. L. |
| Boldero, H. G. | Lefevre, C. S. |
| Bowes, J. | Lemon, Sir C. |
| Brotherton, J. | Lennox, Lord G. |
| Burrell, Sir C. | Lister, E. C. |
| Chalmers, P. | Lowther, J. H. |
| Cole, Viscount | Mackinnon, W. |
| Cripps, J. | Macleod, R. |
| Dundas, hon. T. | Maxwell, J. |
| Dundas, J. | Melgund, Viscount |
| Estcourt, T. | Miles, W. |
| Forster, C. S. | Milton, Viscount |
| Freshfield, J. | Morpeth, Viscount |
| Grey, hon. Colonel | Mosley, Sir O. |
| Handley, H. | Murray, J. A. |
| Hardinge, Sir H. | Neeld, J. |
| Hawes, B. | Nicholl, J. |
| Heneage, E. | Parker, J. |
| Bindley, C. | Parry, Sir L. P. J. |
| Pendarves, E. W. | Tooke, W. |
| Plumptre, J. P. | Wakley, T. |
| Pusey, P. | Wallace, R. |
| Rice, T. S. | Ward, H. G. |
| Rickford, W. | West, J. B. |
| Rolfe, Sir R. M; | Williams, W. |
| Ross, C. | Wilson, H. |
| Rundle, J. | Winnington, H. |
| Russell, Lord C. | Worsley, Lord |
| Shaw, rt. hon. F. | Woulfe, Sergeant |
| Sheppard, T. | Young, G. F. |
| Stanley, E. J. | |
| Stanley, W. O. | TELLERS. |
| Strutt, E. | Verney, Sir H, |
| Thompson, Alderman | Sanford, E. A. |
| List of the NOES. | |
| Aglionby, H. A. | James, W. |
| Ainsworth, P. | King, E. B. |
| Baines, E. | Mackenzie, T. |
| Bewes, T. | Maunsell, T. P. |
| Blackburne, I. | Palmer, R. |
| Blake, M. J. | Palmer, G. |
| Borthwick, P. | Patten, J. W. |
| Brocklehurst, J. | Perceval, Colonel |
| Brodie, W. B. | Ponsonby, J. |
| Clerk, Sir. G. | Russell, C. |
| Collins, W. | Scarlett, hon. R. |
| East, J. B. | Talfourd, Sergeant |
| Estcourt, T. | Thomas, Colonel |
| Follett, Sir W. | Thompson, Colonel |
| Forbes, W. | Thornley, T. |
| Gaskell, D. | Trelawny, Sir W. |
| Goulburn, H. | Trevor, hon. A. |
| Goulburn, Sergeant | Wason, R. |
| Gully, J. | Wilbraham, B. |
| Hawkes, T. | Williams, W. A. |
| Hector, C. J. | Wood, Colonel |
| Hogg, J. W. | TELLERS. |
| Howard, R. | Pryme |
| Howard, P. H. | Strickland, Sir G. |