§ MR. ALDERMAN LAWRENCEsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Poor Law Board, If his attention has been directed to a recent Return made by the Poor Law Board, purporting to show the rate in the pound of the Expenditure for the Relief of the Poor in each of the thirty-nine Unions and Parishes within the Metropolitan District during each of the ten years from 1857 to 1866 inclusive; and, if so, whether he is aware that the said Return is for the most part incorrect, in consequence of the ten columns of figures showing the rate in the pound of each Union and Parish during each of the ten years having been all calculated upon the rateable value of the year 1866, instead of upon the various rateable values of each of the ten years from 1857 to 1866, so that only one of the ten columns of figures is correct; whether he is aware that all the results that may be drawn from the said Return of the rate in the pound are exactly contrary to the actual facts; and, whether he will direct a corrected Return to be made forthwith?
§ MR. GATHORNE HARDYsaid, in reply, that the Return in question had been made out in strict conformity with the Motion of the hon. Gentleman who had asked for its production. That Motion was for a Return of the rateable value of each union and parish in the metropolis 727 according to the latest valuation; and that was, of course, the information which had been furnished. But if the hon. Alderman desired to learn the rateable value of the different unions and parishes during each of the preceding nine years, he (Mr. Gathorne Hardy) should have no objection to such a Motion beyond that which applied to the production of any Returns which would involve great expense and trouble.
§ MR. ALDERMAN LAWRENCEsaid, he would therefore give notice that he should move for an amended Return.