HC Deb 07 July 1903 vol 124 c1527
MR. MANSFIELD

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been drawn to the seizure of goods for the non-payment of education rates, and to the fact that the value of the goods seized has been in most cases in excess of the amount of the rate demanded; will he state whether the authorities have his sanction in seizing goods in excess of the amount required; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter to ensure a more equitable administration of the law.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. WALTER LONG,) Bristol, S.

I have seen newspaper reports of cases where goods have been taken on account of the non-payment of rates, but I do not know what was the value of the goods taken. It is a general rule of law that an excessive distress is an illegal proceeding for which the person aggrieved would have his remedy by action. Whether in any particular instance the distress is excessive is a legal question to be determined according to all the circumstances of the case. The matter is not one with respect to which I have any jurisdiction, and I do not propose to take any action with regard to it.