§ MR. H. B. SHERIDANsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the Government have had in contemplation the introduction of a measure to alter the present system of assessing Income Tax in country towns and districts by the aid of secret Commissioners selected from the district; whether, in the event of no legislative proceedings being contemplated, the Government have the power, without Parliamentary sanction, to alter the present much complained of sytem of secret Local Income Tax Commissioners; and whether, if they have the power, the Government intend to make any alteration in this respect?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said he supposed that by the term "Secret Commissioners" the I hon. Member meant the Commissioners I who took an oath of secresy not to divulge any matters they became acquainted with in the discharge of their duty. Those Secret Commissioners were selected by the whole body of Commissioners from among themselves, and the Government had nothing to do with them. He was not aware of the existence of any general discontent at the mode of their appointment, or the manner in which they performed their duty. He was aware that in the hon. Member's neighbourhood there was some agitation a few months ago in connection I with the Income tax, but he hoped that 1775 agitation was now allayed. From inquiries ho had made lie had reason to believe that it arose more from objections to the Income Tax itself than to those who assessed it. The Government saw no reason to make any change in the law regarding the appointment of the Commissioners.
§ MR. H. B. SHERIDANsaid, he would beg to ask if the names of the Commissioners will be published in future? their names were not known.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, he was not aware that their names were kept secret.