View report page

52
such circumstances as those mentioned in Paragraph 13 of
this Memorandum. The occupier is the person who elects
the spending bodies, and, theoretically at least, can control
their policy. The owner of the ground rent has had no
representation upon the bodies who have piled up the debt of
the Metropolis, and it is questionable morality to make him
responsible for debts he has had no part in incurring. Apart
from considerations of morality, however, the practical
question is, whether it does not best suit the purpose of the
occupier to take upon himself the risk of increased rates to
secure fixity of rent and security of tenure for an ascertained
period. How could a large trader carry on business
successfully if he could not count upon a continuance of his
tenancy, at a rent fixed for a reasonable period in advance?
THE LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE
ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY.
The Vestry have given very careful consideration to
certain suggestions which were formulated by a Committee
of the London County Council for the amendment of the
Valuation (Metropolis) Act, 1869, and circulated among the
Rating Authorities for their observations.
The object of the suggested amendment of the law is to
obtain a more equal rating of property throughout London,
and as the ratepayers of St. James's, owing to the large
rateable value of the Parish, are called upon to bear a
larger proportion of common charges, compared with local
charges, than probably any part of London, the City only
excepted, any proposal to remove an inequality in the basis
upon which these charges are raised, supposing such to
exist, must necessarily command the sympathy of the
Vestry.