LIMITATION OF RATES. 137 



bankruptcy. When that period arrives, the State must 

 interpose to prevent absolute starvation ; so that it is but 

 a choice of evils ; for there can be little doubt that at 

 some point assistance must be given. 



It may be said, — why tax others for the faults of 

 a particular union, so long as there is property of any 

 description in the union 1 No one will buy that pro- 

 perty with its present liabilities : the sooner you come 

 to its relief, the easier will it be to render it effectual 

 aid. Nor are the circumstances of the union of a 

 common kind: its entire food has been mysteriously 

 blighted. 



And yet, again, upon what principle is the proprie- 

 tor of a well-managed estate to be made responsible 

 for the pauperism which has been occasioned by the 

 mismanagement of his neighbours, merely because his 

 property is locally situated within some district which 

 has been arbitrarily assigned to it 1 Upon no just 

 principle, so far as I know, except one which would 

 include an equal burden on all who are embraced 

 within the limits of the same civil government. 



Let a limit be fixed, at whatever point the wisdom of 

 Parliament shall decide. When the rates in any union 

 go beyond that point, let experienced officers be sent 

 down to take the management. Economise the cost of 

 collection by transferring the duty to the officers of 

 Inland Revenue : give them the power of compelling 

 payment of the limited rate, offering inducements to 

 prompt payment by liberal discounts, rather than by 

 exacting penalties for arrears, and let the balance be 

 advanced by the State. 



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