HC Deb 08 July 1869 vol 197 cc1482-3

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clause 11 (Grounds on which persons may object before assessment committees).

DR. BREWER moved in page 5, line 3, at end, add— That the Assessment Committee of each parish or union shall hear and decide all appeals under this Act against the Valuation list of the said parish or union, and that an appeal from the decision of such committee shall be in the court of petty session within the sessional division of the metropolis to which such parish or union belongs. No harm or difficulty whatever could follow from the course which he suggested, and he had received representations from various parts of the metropolis in favour of it.

Amendment proposed, In page 6, line 3, at end, to add the words "that the Assessment Committee of each parish or union shall hear and decide all appeals under this Act against the Valuation list of the said parish or union, and that an appeal from the decision of such committee shall be in the court of petty session within the sessional division of the metropolis to which such parish or union belongs." —(Dr. Brewer.)

MR. GOSCHEN

said, that the Amendment was quite unnecessary, inasmuch as the 11th and 18th clauses would practically effect the object which his hon. Friend wished to attain.

MR. PEEK

complained of the very unequal way in which different parishes were rated in the City.

MR. GOSCHEN

replied that the remedy was in the Bill.

Question put, "That those words be there added."

The Committee divided: — Ayes 21; Noes 80: Majority 59.

Clause agreed to.

Clauses 12 to 51, inclusive, agreed to.

Clause 52 omitted.

Clause 53 (Deductions for rateable value).

MR. GOSCHEN moved, in line 38, to leave out the Proviso to the end of the clause.

COLONEL BRISE

objected to the Bill, as he understood many of the inhabitants of the metropolis objected to it, on the ground that it placed the valuation of property for local and Imperial taxation on the same basis. He could not doubt that if this principle were adopted in the metropolis it would soon spread all over the country.

MR. GOSCHEN

said, that all controversial matter had been dropped from this Bill, and the opposition of the metropolitan. Members had been in consequence withdrawn.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clauses 54 and 55 omitted.

House resumed.

Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Monday next.