§ MR. LYALLasked the President of the Poor Law Board, Whether he would bring in a Bill this Session for the rating of all Mines and Timber?
§ MR. C. P. VILLIERSsaid, that he did not intend at present to propose any legislation on the subject. He had, indeed, received a request from the Chairman of the Commission appointed to inquire into the condition of the people working in metal mines, requesting that he (Mr. C. P. Villiers) would propose no legislation on the subject until the information to be contained in their Report was before the House. There was perhaps less necessity for haste in legislation on this matter, as he understood that since the passing of the Union Assessment Act there bad arisen so much dissatisfaction at the early decision that had rendered mines and timber exempt from rates, that it was not unlikely that the question would be brought again before the Courts. The exemption did not exist either in Scotland or Ireland. He did not see why collieries should be rated and other mines exempted.