148 
Supplementary  Memoranda  to  the  Report  of 
farm,  it  is  essential  that  all  such  valuations  should  he  conducted  by  men  of 
honour  and  independence,  who  combine  practical  experience  with  scientific 
knowledge.*  In  order  to  secure  this,  valuers  should  hold  some  official  certi- 
ficate for  their  fitness  to  perform  their  duties. 
(Signed)  Vernon. 
2. — By  Mr.  Stansfeld. 
I greatly  regret  that  my  unavoidable  absence  from  the  last  sitting  of  the 
Commission  compels  me  to  make  a reserve  upon  some  points,  not  of  primary 
importance,  in  the  Report  of  my  colleagues,  with  which,  generally,  I cordially 
concur. 
1.  I approve  of  the  suggestion  that  the  cost  of  in-maintenance  should  he 
placed  on  rates  or  local  taxes  equitably  adjusted  according  to  means  and 
substance ; but  I think  that  to  defray  them  out  of  the  Consolidated  Fund 
would  lead  to  an  increase  of  centralisation  and  to  extravagance. 
2.  The  inclination  of  my  opinion  is  in  favour  of  the  repeal  of  the  law  of 
distress. 
3.  I do  not  think  it  possible  to  indicate  accurately  the  true  composition  of 
manufactured  articles  by  their  designation.  I do  not  think  that  there  is  any 
analogy  between  fraudulently  adulterated  articles,  such  as  some  artificial 
manures,  feeding-stuffs,  and  seeds,  and  beer  brewed  not  exclusively  from 
malt  and  hops. 
It  is  part  of  the  acknowledged  policy,  both  of  past  and  present  excise  laws, 
that  beer  should  be  so  produced,  and  it  is,  and  long  has  been,  so  produced  in 
large  quantities  subject  to  excise  duty  and  supervision. 
(Signed)  James  Stansfeld. 
July  12,  1882. 
3. — By  Mr.  Chaplix. 
Ecing  in  accord  generally  with  the  views  of  my  colleagues,  I have  signed 
the  Report,  but  I wish  to  put  on  record  my  conviction  that,  if  further  bad 
seasons  follow  upon  those  which  have  produced  such  general  distress,  this 
counfry  must  be  prepared  either  to  witness  the  partial,  if  not  the  general, 
collapse  of  the  agricultural  interest,  or  else  to  provide  relief  of  a more  definite 
and  immediate  character  than  has  been  hitherto  proposed.  With  respect  to 
certain  portions  of  the  Report,  I desire  to  submit  the  following  observations : — 
As  regards  the  recommendations  on  the  subject  of  Local  Taxation,  I think 
the  proposed  relief  should  not  be  limited  to  the  maintenance  of  the  indoor 
poor,  as  defined  in  the  Report,  but  should  be  extended  to  other  objects  of 
national  interest,  which  are  now,  either  partly  or  wholly,  a charge  on  local 
rates. 
Considering  the  prominence  which  has  been  given  to  foreign  competition  as 
a leading  cause  of  agricultural  distress,  and  the  place  it  holds  in  the  evidence 
of  so  many  witnesses,  I think  it  has  scarcely  received  sufficient  notice  in  the 
Report,  and  I desire  to  state  the  reasons  which  have  led  me  to  concur  in 
omitting  to  offer  any  definite  proposal  on  the  subject. 
Witnesses  of  experience, f who  have  been  examined  before  the  Commission, 
* 01,902-01,914  (Sir  E.  C.  Kerrison,  Bart.).  G2,799  (Sir  J.  Caird,  K.C.B.). 
07,727  (J.  Coleman). 
f 13,415.  44,923-4.  44,977.  35,S84.  51,003-4. 
