§ MR. GRETTONI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury for what purpose an addition of about five thousand gentlemen was made to the numbers of the Land Tax Commissioners in December last.
§ Captain NORTON (Newington, W.)The Land Tax Commissioners Act of 1906, under which the now Commissioners were appointed, was introduced in accordance with the usual practice of bringing in a Bill of this nature early in each new Parliament, in order to replenish from time to time the number of Land Tax Commissioners. The Commissioners appointed were, in accordance with the usual practice, selected by Members of Parliament on a Resolution of the House of Commons passed after the Second Reading of the Bill; the selection of the Commissioners and the number to be appointed being matters for the discretion of the individual Members.
§ MR. GRETTONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in Leicester eighty out of eighty-four Commissioners appointed were of one political complexion?
§ CAPTAIN NORTONI am not aware, of that.
§ MR. GRETTONWhat was the reason for appointing the unprecedented number of 5,000?
§ CAPTAIN NORTONI have answered that.
§ MR. GRETTONWere all the appointments made on the recommendation of Members of this House?
§ CAPTAIN NORTONThat is so.
§ LORD R. CECILWas it only Liberal Members who were intrusted with this duty?
§ CAPTAIN NORTONI am not aware, but I believe it was all Members of Parliament.
§ LORD R. CECILI had no communication on the subject at any rate.