78 LOCAL TAXATION 



Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, M.P. (afterwards created Viscount 

 St. Aldwyn), then moved : 



" That as much of the expenditure in the formation of Turnpike 

 roads was incurred for Imperial purposes, it is the opinion of 

 this Chamber that the Consolidated Fund should aid in the 

 liquidation of the remaining debt, when that debt has been fairly 

 appraised or valued by competent authority." 



This was also carried, and a deputation was thereupon 

 appointed to lay these resolutions before Mr. Walpole (Home 

 Secretary). The deputation interviewed this Minister on 

 12th February, and he " promised his best attention to their 

 claims." 



At the next meeting, 2nd April, 1867, the Chamber approved 

 the principle of Mr. Hunt's Valuation of Property Bill, but as 

 there were several clauses in it which the Chamber did not 

 approve, the Select Committee was requested to hear evidence 

 from their members, and five witnesses were nominated who 

 were willing to be examined. Another resolution was adopted 

 the same day, urging that 



" the assessment for Local Taxation should be extended as far 

 as possible to other property than that now rated, and that a 

 Select Committee of the House of Commons be asked to take 

 evidence on the subject." 



1868. 



In February Sir M. Hicks-Beach moved in the House of 

 Commons for a Return on Local Taxation. In May Sir 

 Massey Lopes moved the resolution, referred to on page 76, 

 as follows : 



" That inasmuch as the local charges on real property have of 

 late years much increased, and are annually increasing, it is 

 neither just nor politic that all these burdens should be levied 

 exclusively from this description of property." 



In June Mr. F. S. Corrance moved for a Select Committee, 

 but the motion, after an animated debate, was withdrawn. 



Resolutions were adopted by the Chamber on 3rd March, 

 deprecating any measure which requires an Education Rate, 

 and asking for more liberal grants, less restricted as to con- 

 ditions, in aid of the then existing Voluntary School System. 



