§ SIR WILLIAM GALLWEYsaid, he begged to move for leave to bring in a Bill to establish County Financial Boards for the assessing of County Rates, and for the administration of County expenditure in England and Wales. He proposed to postpone debate on this question till his Bill was printed, and in the hands of hon. Members. The principal object of his Bill was to provide that there should be local representation wherever there was local taxation. He thought the absence of such a principle was a great anomaly, and con- 1207 trary to the spirit of the Constitution. He had been told, indeed, that his Bill was unnecessary, because the legislation of this House, within the last few years, had fixed the County taxation beyond the power of any Board to alter. He did not think this was the case altogether; but, even if it were, it did not affect the constitutional question, that taxation should be accompanied by representation. The Bill was intended to render possible what had been suggested by other legislation on the same subject—namely, that the Board should exercise control over finance without interfering with the judicial character of the Bench. A Board elected on his plan would consist partly of members elected by the Boards of Guardians and partly of Justices of the Peace.
§ Bill to establish County Financial Boards, ordered to be brought in by Sir WILLIAM GALLWEY and Mr. HARTLEY.
§ Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 51.]