HANTS GENERAL QUARTER SESSIONS.
DEFECTIVE RATING OF THE COUNTY.—The Report of the Finance Committee referred to the resolution come to at a General Quarter Sessions in 1840, to obtain returns from every parish, township, &c. of the respective value and modes of rating in each, and the Clerk of the Peace was to provide printed forms, to be sent to the various public and parochial officers requiring them, to fill up the same. Notwithstanding the pains that had been taken to induce compliance with the resolution of the court, they regretted to state that the whole of the return made were so defective, while from many places there were no returns sent at all, that it became indispensable to adopt some other mode of accomplishing their object. From the Isle of Wight, they had received a reply to the effect that they were not liable to a rating in the usual way, but had, since 1774, paid a certain proportion of the rating for the county, on the part of the whole Island, and reserved to themselves the power of rating their respective parishes, &c. Under these circumstances the Finance Committee apply to the Court for further directions. The great inequality of the present rate arose from the fact of the last rating having been formed a quarter of a century ago, since which the Tithe Commutation and other acts had been passed, which materially altered the value of property in general.
The Committee therefore recommended to the Court one of the two following propositions:— 1st—That a surveyor be appointed and empowered to examine the poor-rate assessment, and all other documents; then to survey a portion of the property already surveyed, assessed, &c. and estimate the real way in which it had been rated; so that with respect to such of the surveys and assessments as should be found correct, they might be adopted, and thereby prevent the expense of an extensive survey. They would then have to frame their estimate for the county rate upon the returns so made—of course allowing for the various proportions in which the various assessments might vary from the real value of the properties. Another mode, and which would be attended with advantage, would be the appointment of a surveyor, with instructions to attend the petty sessions, and there require the attendance of the parish officers, call for and examine rate books, books of assessment, and other documents, and with the information so obtained report to the Court.
The Chairman observed that from several important places returns had not been sent in, namely—Petersfield, Lymington, and Southampton. He should like to hear what their friends from the Isle of Wight had to state as regarded their case; he felt sure that they had mistaken the law in their proceedings. The Clerk to the Justices of the Isle of Wight had replied to the effect that he did not consider that the order applied to the Isle of Wight as they claimed to pay a proportion of the amount to be levied, and not to be separately valued; but he would say, that if they had only paid—say a quarter of their proportion of assessment— they were in error. That court was bound to satisfy itself that the Isle of Wight is rated equally with the county. That was a point above all others in connexion with this subject. It might be that they were to deduct something from the valuation of the Island, on account of their paying their own bridges, gaols, and other local expenses. But if they were, as they might be, entitled to those abatements, they must still send returns—he considered that the Isle of Wight must go on a valuation, whether they were entitled to these deductions or whether they were entitled to these deductions or not. It appeared that in 1774 a certain proportion was arranged to be paid by the Isle of Wight, and that though, in 1819 the sum was varied, the proportion remained. He had taken considerable pains to ascertain the amount which had been held to be the proportion of the Isle of Wight in the county assessment, and what the Island had actually expended—his calculation gave him a result in sixteen years of the assessment being 146l. a year, while they had been expending 800l. a year; some years it was so high as 1000l. but the average was as he had stated; and it was not from any pecuniary interest that the Court wished to obtain these returns from the Isle of Wight; but it was necessary to settle this matter in order that the rate might be a legal one. With regard to the returns, there could be no doubt that the Isle of Wight Justices were bound, as well as all other Justices, to obey the precepts of that Court.
The Rev. Walton White begged to say that they (the Island Justices) had felt that by the arrangement of 1774, it had been stipulated that they were to pay their proportion of the rate—but they had not entertained any idea of resisting that Court. In fact, they had not the power to furnish any account that would be of the slightest use. Their parish officers had arranged the amount of assessment differently in different parishes; some parishes were valued at a rack rent; some at a third, and others at a sixth. They came forward and made a declaration of the value of their respective parishes, and it was taken. He knew that they (the Isle of Wight) were not gainers by the separation, but their gaol improvements, separate sessions, and other alterations had caused an amount of expenditure which would not be continued. With respect to the house of industry, Visiting Justices had been appointed immediately after the framing of the Act. With regard to accounts, there had not been any kept—previous to 1770 they paid 5l. a-year. Their accounts were kept by their banker, T. J. Blachford, esq. who banked with his own firm.
The Chairman said, that though these and other usages had crept up—still all rates must be made according to the statute, and it was the duty of that Court to look that the requirements of the statute were complied with. No doubt the house of industry and bridewell received proper attention, but his case was strengthened by the fact. Another point was the not being able to get these returns correctly; but it was important that they should be obtained, as, however imperfect, they were important in establishing the different classes of property, as to whether it was arable, pasture, &c., by which they would get the ingredient, though not the value, in their return. Besides, the Isle of Wight authorities might have put the examinants on their oaths to explain their statements; but, whether they were satisfactory or not, the Court must get them.—(The Chairman announced that at that moment the return from Lymington had been put into his hand).
Sir Thomas Baring said the parties declining to make the returns might be compelled to give them.
The Rev. Walton White reiterated that they (Isle of Wight) did not refuse, but their returns would be entirely useless—they were willing to meet any gentleman on the subject.
The Chairman asked if the Isle of Wight Bench would engage to produce the returns?
The Rev. Walton White had no authority to answer for the rest of the Bench, but he had no doubt of it. He would strongly recommend it—but when the returns were got, they would be found to be of no value whatever.
The Chairman said that they would not be sufficient to frame a rate upon them, but they would be of great advantage to a surveyor. He would suggest, that if a survey had been recently done, which could be depended upon, it should be adopted, and that in the survey to be made that it should be of a general nature, and not as between the farmers of a hundred acres each for example.
The Right Hon. C. Shaw Le Fevre observed, that in many places the survey would not be necessary, and in others would not occupy much time, or cause any considerable expense; and he would suggest that the resolution should specify the survey to be only "where necessary." This was not a new plan—it had been tried in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where the properties were very different, there being numerous manufactories, yet the survey gave great satisfaction, and he hoped it would be so in this county, which was so purely agricultural.
It was then moved, seconded, and carried, that a surveyor of competent ability be appointed to survey, and that he should be directed to go to the Churchwarden and Overseers of all the parishes, and Clerks of Quarter Sessions, and call for rate-books, assessments, and all other documents, and having ascertained the principle on which the rating had been assessed, and compared the county rate returns with the Poor-law returns, where necessary to make a survey of the property rated, and ascertain its real value, and report the same to the Committee of Finance, for the purpose of making a new county rate.
The Rev. R. Wright asked whether the surveyor should be paid by a per centage, or by one sum.
The Chairman said there were a great many questions of detail as to the qualification of the party, and consideration to be paid, and—
The Right Hon. C. S. Le Fevre having suggested that it should be referred to the Finance Committee to make a bargain with the surveyor, it was moved, seconded and carried—
"That it be referred to the Finance Committee to carry into effect the resolution of the Court, and that they have power to appoint a surveyor on such terms as they may think fit."
The first day of the Finance Committee's meeting for the before-mentioned purpose, was fixed for Wednesday the 20th of January inst.