§ Mr. JOHN PHILLIPSasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will consider the desirability of granting the whole amount of the Dog Tax in Ireland to the local county councils, and by that means 2286 make it a more popular tax, and not have it so often evaded as at present?
§ Mr. CHERRYIt would not be possible to grant the whole of the Dog Tax to county councils without dislocating the petty sessions system in Ireland. It may, however, be observed that the amount of the Dog Tax and of the surplus paid over to local authorities has greatly increased within the last 20 years. There is, therefore, no reason to suppose that the tax, as at present collected, is unpopular or that it is often evaded.