SELECT COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS 95 



measure affecting local taxation was passed, viz., the Municipal 

 Corporations (Property Qualification Abolition) Bill, and this 

 the Committee succeeded in amending in several important 

 particulars. 



A Select Committee of the House of Lords was appointed 

 to inquire into the working of the Highways Act, and they took 

 evidence from witnesses appointed by the Central Chamber ; 

 and although their report, issued in 1881 , was rather indefinite, 

 it pointed to the admitted expediency of relieving ratepayers 

 from some of their liabilities under this head. 



1881. 



The Irish question monopolised practically the whole of 

 this Session, although seven Bills were introduced proposing 

 new charges on the rates. Six of these were opposed by the 

 Committee, and all six were withdrawn. One other the 

 Local Government Boundaries Bill, reintroduced by Lord 

 Edmund Fitzmaurice the Committee cordially approved, 

 but time did not permit of its being proceeded with. In 

 March Colonel Harcourt moved a resolution declaring the 

 expediency of defraying part of the cost of the maintenance 

 of main roads out of other sources than the county rates, and 

 this was only defeated by a majority of 14 votes. In this 

 debate Mr. Gladstone declared that it was incumbent on 

 Parliament " to examine upon a large scale what is the best 

 mode of giving real property that aid which it was once 

 accustomed to receive from personal property." 



1882. 



The Committee opened their campaign this year by -an 

 influential deputation to the Prime Minister, and were gratified 

 shortly afterwards to learn from the Queen's Speech that 

 Parliament would be invited, in connection with local govern- 

 ment reform, to consider " the proper extent and the most 

 equitable and provident form of contribution from Imperial 

 Taxes in relief of local charges." Their hopes were dis- 

 appointed, for the Government made no attempt to bring 

 forward any proposals relating to either local taxation or 





