§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR(for Mr. O'DOHERTY) (Donegal, N.)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, What proportion the annual amount raised by county cess, borough rate, and other town rates bears to the total amount raised by local taxation in 178 Ireland; are any grants in aid of such county cess and town rates made from the Imperial Exchequer; and, why are the cesspayers practically excluded from such relief in aid?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OE THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)According to the last Return, the total amount raised by local rates in Ireland is £2,797,451, and the county cess, borough rate, and other town rates amount to £1,760,125, or 63 par cent of the whole. The grant for the maintenance of pauper lunatics goes in aid of the county cess. It amounts to about £105,000. The counties also benefit by the cost of prosecutors and witnesses in Crown cases, which were formally provided for by presentment, being now borne by the Imperial Exchequer and by a small grant made to certain public infirmaries. But these are not, strictly speaking, grants in aid of the county cess. In the same way in towns in which the Commissioners are Urban Sanitary Authorities half the cost of the sanitary officers' salaries is borne by the Government; but it is the poor rates which are relieved by this, rather than the town rates proper. I think I may take the hon. Member's Question as indicating his wish that any further relief given to local rates in Ireland should be applied in aid of the county cess and town rates. I cannot, of course, make any promise now; but I note his wish.