§ MR. SUTTON WESTERNsaid, he would beg to ask the President of the Poor 1422 Law Board, Whether any steps have been taken to enable Parochial Assessment Committees to appear by Counsel or otherwise for the purpose of defending their decisions before Petty or Quarter Sessions, and to provide means for meeting the expenses attending such defence?
§ MR. C. P. VILLIERSsaid, in reply, that, as the Law now stood, if there was an Appeal against the valuation of a parish by the Assessment Committee, the Guardians could appear as respondents to that Appeal, and charge their costs, in case of failure, on the common fund; but it appeared that if the overseers made a rate upon the valuation so made by the Assessment Committee, and there was an Appeal against the rate, there was no provision for either the Committee or the Guardians to appear in defence of their valuation. This was considered a serious defect in the Act, and many representations of the injustice which this occasioned had reached the Poor Law Board. He had, therefore, determined to introduce a Bill to amend the Act in that respect, and he would do so in time for it to become law before the July Sessions.
§ MR. ALDERMAN SALOMONSsaid, he would beg to ask the President of the Poor Law Board if he intends to propose any Amendment of the Union Assessment Act during the present Session, and particularly if he intends so to alter that Act as to make it compulsory on parties to appeal to the Assessment Committee before appealing to the Justices in Quarter Sessions?
§ MR. C. P. VILLIERSsaid, he had already stated that he would introduce an Amendment in the Union Assessment Act. He thought the provision which his hon. Friend suggested was very useful, and would take care that it was not overlooked in the Bill.