§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that since the passing of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, occupiers of houses and cottages under £4 valuation are liable for rates, and of the burden consequently entailed on the solvent ratepayers both by the failure of these small occupiers to pay their rates and by the cost of legal proceedings, he will take steps to have the owners of houses and cottages under the said valuation made primarily liable for the rates?
§ Mr. WYNDHAMThe Local Government Act was based on the principle that the occupier should be rated, and the Agricultural Grant was fixed upon this understanding. The fundamental change suggested is neither practicable nor desirable.