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44
Upon the invitation of the Kensington Vestry, delegates
were appointed to attend a Conference for the purpose
of considering as to action being taken for re-imposing the
dues. At this Conference the following resolutions were
n
unanimously passed:—
That this Conference of Delegates expressing the views of 19
parishes and districts of the Metropolis, having a population
of over 1,564.431, and a rateable value of £11.841.332. is
of opinion that the abolition of the Coal Dues has totally
failed to afford the relief predicted at the time they were
abolished, experience having clearly proved that not only
has no gain come to the coal consumers of London, but that
an appreciable increase has been caused by their abolition
in the direct lccal taxation of the Metropolis, and a serious
obstacle raised to the carrying out of important Metropolitan
improvements.
That this Conference, being fully convinced that the re-imposition
of the dues would not be prejudicial to the coal consumers
at large, but would afford a welcome relief to the heavilyburthened
ratepayers of the Metropolis, is of opinion that it
is highly desirable that steps should be taken with the
object of restoring to the inhabitants of the Metropolis the
benefits so long derived from the said dues, and that the
London County Council and City Corporation be asked to
co-operate in the movement.
That a copy of the resolutions adopted by the Conference be
forwarded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as the representative
of Her Majesty's Government, the London County
Council, the Corporation of the City of London, and the
Vestries and District Boards of the Metropolis.
No effective steps have, however, been taken for renewing
the dues.
TAXATION OF GROUND RENTS.
The Vestry had before them in the month of March a
letter from the Vestry of St. George, Hanover Square,