154 LOCAL TAXATION 



had been granted under this head in any previous year. Oil 

 23rd February, a discussion arose on the relief of local rates- 

 on the financial resolutions relating to the Budget of 1910. 

 On 15th August on Report of Supply, Mr. Charles Bathurst 

 protested against the policy of the Road Board of making 

 no grants for road improvements unless the local authorities 

 concerned contributed a large percentage of the outlay. In 

 their annual report for this year the Council said : 



". . . The Council report a certain measure of success 

 under the head of Local Taxation, but they were only successful 

 in retaining the position previously held, not in obtaining any 

 fresh concessions. In fact, it is not strictly accurate to say that 

 the position was held, for ratepayers have had the half proceeds 

 of the land duties taken away from them for three years, contrary 

 to the understanding when the Finance Act was passed." 



National Insurance Act. 



Like the Finance Bill in 1909, this subject was referred to 

 the Local Taxation Committee, although it only touched their 

 field of work in one or two points. That Committee presented 

 three reports from which the following extracts are taken : 



Your Committee consider that unless the Bill be materially 

 altered in Committee in the interests of the agricultural labourers 

 and their employers, Members of Parliament representing agri- 

 cultural divisions be requested to vote against the Third Reading- 

 of the Bill. 



That in view of the lower wages, smaller profits and better 

 standard of health obtaining in agricultural districts, a uniform 

 joint contribution will create an injustice to all engaged in 

 agriculture as compared with other industries. 



That the application of half the surplus standing to the credit 

 of a rural branch of an approved society to wiping off the deficit 

 of other and less healthy branches in the towns, involves the 

 payment by agriculture of part of the benefit enjoyed by those 

 engaged in more prosperous industries. 



That it would be an injustice to call upon the employers of 

 adult workmen whose wages and other remuneration, do not 

 exceed a certain amount for a larger proportion of the contri- 

 butions payable than would be the case if the wages exceeded 

 that amount ; inasmuch as a heavier burden would be imposed 

 upon them in relation to their total labour expenditure than 

 would be borne by employers of more highly paid workmen 

 employed in more profitable industries. 



That under no circumstances shall any part of the charges 

 incurred under the Bill fall upon the ratepayers. 



