§ MR. SLOANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that a number of urban councils throughout Ireland have forwarded resolutions to the Local Government Board, asking the Board to take steps to have the Local Government (Ireland) Act so amended as to make landlords of small holdings liable for rates, as formerly, owing to the loss and difficulty experienced at present in collecting them; and, if so, does he intend to take steps to remedy this evil during the present session.
1162 (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) I have already stated that the Act of 1898 was based on the principle that the occupier should be rated, and that the Agricultural Grant was fixed upon this understanding. The fundamental change suggested is neither practicable nor desirable.