PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS. 201 
(1) Return, Local Government Board :— Rateable Property 
Cveland ana Vales). (AC€. 150.) - Price 11d. 
(2) Return, Local Government Board, Scotland :—Lands and 
Fleritages (Scotland). (H.C. 221.) Prace od. 
The first return shows the rateable value of buildings, rail- 
ways, and other kinds of rateable property in England and 
Wales in 1870, 1894, and 1899, distinguishing for the year 
1899 agricultural land from other lands. In 1870 the rate- 
avle value of lands, including agricultural and other lands, 
was £ 39,835,088, in 1894 it had fallen to £ 33,654,550, and in 
1899 there was a further decline to 431,312,342, the difference 
between the first and latest period representing a diminution 
Of 21-4 per cent: 
The rateable value of “ agricultural land,” as distinguished 
irom “other lands,’ was first shown separately in the Valua- 
tion Lists in 1896, when it was required for the purposes of 
the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, which provides zzer alza 
that during the period of five years from 31st March, 1897, to 
Bie viaten, 1902, “the occupier of agricultural land in 
England shall be liable in the case of certain rates (includ- 
ing the Poor Rate) to pay one-half only of the rate in the 
pound payable in respect of buildings and other heredita- 
ments.” “According to statements furnished to the Local 
Government Board, the rateable value of agricultural land 
was— 
On the 20th July, 1896 (the date of the passing of L 
the Agricultural Rates Act) 24,505,058 
At Lady-day, 1897 - - . - - - - 24,342,620 
At Lady-day, 1898 - - - - - - EZ ATOON 2 
And at Lady-day, 1899 - - - : - =" 245034708 
The decrease between 20th July, 1896, and 25th March, 
1899, in the rateable value of agricultural land has been 
£530,355, which, calculated on the rateable value of £24,565,058 
on 20th July, 1896, is equivalent to a decrease of 2°16 per 
cent., or 08 per cent. per annum. 
An examination of returns for counties shows that the 
decline in rateable value of agricultural lands since July, 
1896, has been greatest in the counties of Bedford, Berks, 
Dorset, Essex, Norfolk, Oxford, and Suffolk, in all of which 
