HC Deb 20 June 1843 vol 70 cc174-6
Captain Pechell

moved, That the return of the several cases of assessed taxes for the years 1841 and 1842, determined on appeal be printed. He stated, that these decisions were, generally speaking, most vexatious, that they arose out of unjust surcharges, that the proceedings were conducted in private, no reports of them being permitted to appear in the newspapers, and that the public had great reason to complain of them. Some of the cases were most appalling. The judges even were generally obliged to reverse the decisions of the commissioners. As for the surveyors, they had an interest in every surcharge they made, and the more they laid on the more they recommended themselves to their employers.

Sir G. Clerk

said, the papers now required to be printed were formerly regularly published, and so little anxiety had been shown by the public to possess them, that the last year of their publication only four copies had been sold. This year the Board of Stamps and Taxes had found it necessary to print these documents for their own use. 300 copies had been sent down to the House. Two bad been taken by the hon. Member for Brighton, and the remaining 298 were wholly at his service, as not another copy had been asked for. Under these circumstances, he would put it to the House, whether they would incur the outlay necessary for this publication.

Captain Pechell

thought it highly probable, that Gentlemen opposite did not want such papers, but Members on his side would, no doubt, be very glad to be possessed of any authentic publication. The fact was, however, that the return published by the board was very imperfect, no less than twenty-five cases having been suppressed.

The House divided on the question that the returns be printed:—Ayes 16; Noes 79:—Majority 63.

List of the AYES.
Blake, Sir V. Pryse, P.
Collett, J. Redington, T. N.
Curteis, H. B. Scholefield, J.
Fielder, J. Seale, Sir J. H.
Hollond, R. Tancred, H. W.
James, W. Williams, W.
Morris, D.
Muntz, G. F. TELLERS.
Napier, Sir C. Pechell, Capt.
Plumridge, Capt. Wawn, J. T.
List of the NOES.
Bailey, J., jun. Hodgson, R.
Baird, W. Hogg, J. W.
Baring, hon. W. B. Hope, G. W.
Barrington, Visct. Hughes, W. B.
Baskerville, T. B. M. Hussey, T.
Blackburne, J. I. Jermyn, Earl
Bodkin, W. H. Joliffe, Sir W. G.
Boldero, H. G. Knatchbull, rt. hn. Sir E
Borthwick, P. Leslie, C. P.
Broadley, H. Lockhart, W.
Brotherton, J. Lowther, J. H.
Bruce, Lord E. Mackenzie, W. F.
Buller, E. Marsham, Visct.
Burrell, Sir C. M. Masterman, J.
Charteris, hon. F. Meynell, Capt.
Christopher, It. A. Mitcalfe, H.
Clive, hon. R. H. Mundy, E. M.
Corry, rt. hon. H. Norreys, Lord
Cripps, W. Packe, C. W.
Darby, G. Patten, J. W.
Dickinson, F. H. Peel, rt. hon. Sir R.
Duncan, G. Peel, J.
Dungannon, Visct. Plumptre, J. P.
Eliot, Lord Pringle, A.
Evans, W. Rose, rt. hon. Sir G.
Flower, Sir J. Ross, D. R.
Forman, T. S. Scarlett, hon. R. C.
Fuller, A. E. Sheppard, T.
Gisborne, T. Smith, A.
Gladstone, rt. hn. W. E. Smith, rt. hon. R. V.
Glynne, Sir S. R. Smith, rt. hn. T. B. C.
Godson, R. Somerset, Lord G.
Gordon, hon. Capt. Stanley, Lord
Goulburn, rt. hon. H. Sutton, hon. H. M.
Graham, rt. hn. Sir J. Trench, Sir F. W.
Greene, T. Trollope, Sir J.
Grimsditch, T. Tufnell, H.
Hale, R. B. Waddington, H. S.
Hayes, Sir E. TELLERS.
Henley, J. W. Fremantle, Sir T.
Hervey, Lord A, Clerk, Sir G.