MR, DUCKHAM'S MEMORIAL 97 



the Education Rate to dwelling-houses only, and the Local 

 Boundaries Bill of the previous Session. 



1883. 



As the Queen's Speech in February gave no promise of 

 legislation, and the Budget made no proposals for relief to 

 ratepayers, the Committee took the only alternative left them, 

 and on 17th April Mr. Pell moved the following resolution : 



" That no further delay should be allowed in granting adequate 

 relief to ratepayers in counties and boroughs in respect of national 

 services required of local authorities." 



To this unconditional demand for immediate action Mr. 

 Albert Grey moved the following amendment : 



" That this House, recognising the connection which must 

 exist between the reform of local taxation and that of local 

 government, is of opinion that the relief granted to ratepayers 

 in counties and boroughs should be by the transfer to local 

 authorities of the revenue proceeding from particular taxes or 

 portions of taxes, and that a measure dealing with the whole 

 question of local taxation and of local government is most urgently 

 required." 



Mr. A. J. Balfour spoke in support of the original motion, 

 but the Government supported the amendment, which was 

 carried by a majority of ten only, in a House of 450 members. 

 Immediately after the division thirty-one of the usual sup- 

 porters of the Government, whose votes for this amendment, 

 secured the defeat of the motion, signed a memorial in the^ 

 following terms, which was drawn up and presented to Mr. 

 Gladstone by Mr. Thomas Duckham : 



" We, the undersigned, are desirous of conveying to your" 

 notice that our votes were given in favour of Mr. Grey's amend- 

 ment, rather than Mr. Pell's motion, from the fact that the 

 Government supported an amendment which declared that a 

 measure dealing with the whole question of local taxation and 

 of local government is most urgently required ; and in the full 

 confidence that the oft -promised legislation of these objects 

 would be proceeded with with the least possible delay. We 

 trust you will pardon our suggesting that the urgency demanded 

 for recent legislation on just and sufficient grounds for coercive 

 measures might not unreasonably be asked for on behalf of the 

 overburdened ratepayers of the United Kingdom in this time 

 of severe depression." 



