TITHE COMMUTATION RENT-CHARGE BILL. (Hansard, 4 March 1856)

§ MR. ROBERT PHILLIMORE
moved for leave to bring in a Bill to declare the effect and operation of the Act 6 & 7 Will. IV., for regulating parochial assessments, and to make provision for the juster and more uniform rating of tithe commutation rent-charges to the relief of the poor. He said the object of the Bill was to remedy a great injury which had long existed, and was continually increasing, and the existence of which had been acknowledged by some of the highest authorities in the country. All who had looked into the question had admitted that the working of the power of appeal, under the Assessment Act, was contrary to the intentions of those who framed the statute, and that its operation was felt severely in regard to the rating of tithe commutation charges. The Bill was not intended to give any new privilege, or to confer any favour whatever upon the parochial clergy or lay tithe holders. He therefore hoped that the Government would not object to its introduction.

§ MR. BOUVERIE,
on the part of the Government, would not object to the introduction of the Bill, but guarded himself against being understood to give any assent to its principle, which there would be ample time to discuss hereafter.

§ MR. HADFIELD
complained that railway proprietors especially were made to suffer by the present system, inasmuch as they were improperly assessed on their 1851 profits, which no other subjects of Her Majesty were, and then refused the right of appeal to the higher tribunals.