Mr. POLLOCKasked whether, in passing any Bill in relation to the continuance of the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, he will have regard to the Second Report of the Royal Commission on Agricultural Depression, dated 7th February, 1896. and to the Commissioners' recommendation in paragraph 45 that, in order to place agricultural lands in their right position as compared with other rateable properties, it is essential that they should be assessed to all local rates in a reduced proportion of their rateable value, namely, one-fourth only of their rateable value., and be prepared to give effect to this recommendation?
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Mr. POLLOCKalso asked whether, in any re-enactment of the provisions of the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, Government will provide that the measure of relief shall apply to the rate for the time being leviable upon the land, and not, as at present, to the rate within the meaning of the original Act passed in the year 1896?
§ Mr. BURNSPerhaps I may be allowed to answer these two questions together. I could not undertake to promise legislation with a view to extending the operation of the Agricultural Rates Act in either of the directions indicated.