§ MR. FIRTH (Dundee)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether the new county rate in London will be in all respects levied as poor's rate, so that existing exemptions from the rate of the Metropolitan Board will cease?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)The Question raised by the hon. Member depends upon the construction of the provisions of the Local Government Act, and is, therefore, a point of law. I am constantly receiving inquiries as to the legal construction of the Statute on matters, many of them of considerable difficulty, which I have neither the power nor the desire to determine; and, therefore, I think it is better that I should not express an opinion upon thorn.