MR. HEADLAMsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is the intention of the Government to make any change in the authorities which manage the Lighthouses of the kingdom, or in the form 574 of taxation by which the funds for their maintenance are now raised?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, he had not changed the opinion he had expressed last year, that the present mode of raising the taxes for the support of lighthouses was better than imposing the charge on the general revenue of the country; for, though collected from shipping, they were really paid by the consumers. There was this advantage in the present mode of collection—that it was a test of the sincerity of those who applied for the erection of new lights; because the first question that was asked them was, whether they were ready to pay the tolls for the new lights. If that safeguard was removed, there would be great danger that Parliamentary influence might be brought to bear for the erection of comparatively useless lights.