The Parliamentary Debates (Authorized Edition) Volume 252 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880 Excerpt: ...was this--The real rent was to be taken wherever a rent was paid; but wherever a man occupied his own land or his own house the real value was to be taken, as nearly as could be ascertained, in comparison with what other houses or other lands wero rented at in the same neighbourhood. Nothing was more common in Edinburgh than for a man to occupy his own house. Perhaps one-half of a streetwas occupied by the owners, and the other half let to tenants. Well, what was to be done with a house occupied by the owner if the assessment was to be only by the real rent? Since no rent was paid no assessment according to the rent could be taken; but here came in the provision that the real value was to be ascertained by the rental of property of the same kind in the neighbourhood. The same provision applied to land as to houses, and hence the two provisions worked together, and the fact was that the Act was regarded by all parties in Scotland as valuable and equitable. Me. DUCKHAM said, he should vote for the second reading of the measure. Lord HENRY SCOTT said, the present condition of things was not the fault of the late President of the Local Government Board, but rather that of the late Parliament; for when the last Government brought forward a Valuation Bill it was obstructed by Amendments which complicated the question with that of county government. He hoped vernment would introduce a Valuation Bill this Session, and that they would keep the question of county government quite apart from it. Mr. STORER said, the many attempts that had been made to deal with this question had not resulted in a good settlement, for one distinct and clear reason, which was, that it was impossible to get one assessment for local and for Imperial taxation, because, while a man's income...