§ MR. JOSEPH DEVLIN (Kilkenny, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the cause of the delay in replying to representations made to him by the Belfast City Council and other public bodies with regard to the re-valuation of Belfast: and whether, in view of the fact that an increase of £16,000, or 25 per cent, of the total, has been made in the valuation of licences as distinct from the structure of public-houses, he will advise the Commissioner of Valuation to remit this portion of the valuation.
(Answered by Mr. wyndham.) I stated on Monday last t that I had considered the representations to which reference is made in the first part of the Question and that, with the exception of the suggestion relating to the immediate operation of the annual revision, which is now before the Law Officers, I found nothing in them to justify the postponement of the re-valuation. In reply to the second part of the Question, the decision of the Commissioner of Valuation that the licences of public-houses are rateable under the Irish statutes, is in England and Scotland, has been upheld by the Recorder of Belfast. I understand that a further appeal is in contemplation to the Superior Courts. It is not, therefore, practical for me to interfere in the matter, as suggested, even if it were expedient to do so.