§ MR. MAGNIACasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether, having regard to the impossibility in the present state of the Law of assessing Lands for rating purposes upon a just and equal valuation, he will communicate with the local authorities for the purpose of obtaining such information as would enable him to bring in a Bill on the first available opportunity for providing for the altered state of the Country?
§ MR. DODSON, in reply, said, he could not altogether agree that, in the present state of the law, it was impossible to assess lands for rating purposes upon a just and equal valuation, though he quite admitted there were very great difficulties in the way of doing this. He also admitted that it was desirable that the machinery for the purpose should be amended, and a more definite rule laid down for assessment committees as regards periodical revision of valuation and deductions from property to arrive at rateable value. No fresh information on the subject was needed. Only a favourable opportunity was wanted, and more than once he had had occasion to express regret that there was no prospect of such an opportunity this year.