LANDLORDS TAX THEMSELVES 77 



tenancy. Equally, that until there is such a change, he reaps 

 the benefit of any reduction. 



We often hear from Socialists to-day that agriculture is, 

 and always has been, over-represented in Parliament : that 

 the landlords have legislated in their own interests, and taxed 

 other people for the benefit of their own class. There can be 

 no better refutation of this untruth than to point to the 

 Parochial Assessments Act. When that Act was passed in 

 1836, landowners certainly predominated in Parliament. 

 At that time it was realised that land was by no means the 

 only form of property, as it was when the great Act of Eliza- 

 beth was passed in 1601, but that personalty was increasing 

 rapidly. Yet this Parliament of landlords deliberately laid 

 on themselves, and on their descendants, the burden of local 

 rates by passing this Act. Further than this, when, after a 

 few years' working of the Act, it was found difficult to assess 

 " Stock in Trade," they passed the Poor Rate Exemption 

 Act, of 1840, and that Act has been renewed every year since 

 by the annual Expiring Laws Continuance Acts. 



1867. 



Turning now to the actual records of the Chamber, we find 

 that the first debate on Local Taxation took place on 5th 

 February, 1867, and that,, apart from matters pertaining to 

 the organisation of the Chamber itself, this was the second 

 subject taken up, Cattle Diseases being the first. The resolu- 

 tion carried was : 



" That as two Committees of the House of Commons, one in 

 1836 and another in 1864, have, after full inquiry, reported that 

 the turnpike system is vexatious and expensive, and that, under 

 certain conditions, the abolition of Turnpike Trusts as at present 

 existing would be beneficial and expedient, and as some trusts 

 are in course of abolition, thereby inflicting serious hardship and 

 injustice on certain parishes, it is the opinion of this Chamber 

 that Turnpike Trusts should be abolished simultaneously, and 

 that provision for the future maintenance of all public roads 

 should be settled bj^ legislation on a fair and equitable 

 basis." 



