MR. HERBERT LEWIS (Flint District)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in many districts the Commissioners of Land Tax, who, according to law, are 636 the proper persons to elect the Commissioners of Income Tax, have not met for several years, and that in some cases the Commissioners of Income Tax are practically a self-elected body; and whether he will take the necessary steps to cause the Commissioners of Land Tax to be periodically summoned for the purpose of filling up vacancies in the office of Commissioner of Income Tax?
§ SIR JOHN HIBBERTI have no knowledge of the facts referred to in the question. The jurisdiction of the Board of Inland Revenue, or of the Treasury, is very limited in these matters; but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the cases to which he alludes, I will cause full inquiry to be made, and if—as would appear to be the case—the administration of the Income Tax in the district is found to be defective all practicable steps shall be taken to improve it.