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13
Local Taxation — Reform of.— In May, 1889,
the Vestry received a letter from the St. Olave's
District Board, forwarding the following suggestions
for the reform of local taxation :—
All land and buildings to be assessed to rates on market
value, and not on actual or estimated rental or profits.
All land to be equally assessed to rates, whether vacant or
occupied, and all buildings to be assessed to rates if vacant beyond
a limited time.
The assessment of all property to be made for the whole of
London upon a uniform basis, and by one authority.
Owners as well as occupiers to be made directly liable for a
due proportion of all Rates.
The whole system of collection of Rates in London to be
investigated with a view to simplification and economy.
The Vestry came to the following resolutions
thereon :—
That having regard to the difficulty and expense of arriving
at "market value," as distinguished from " actual or estimated
rental," the Vestry take no action with reference to the proposal
that all land and buildings be assessed to rates on market values
and not on actual or estimated rentals or profits.
That the Vestry disagree with the proposal that all land
should be equally assessed to rates, whether vacant or occupied,
and that all building be assessed to rates if vacant beyond a
limited time.
That the Vestry is of opinion that under the Valuation Act,
1869, there already exists a uniform basis of valuation, which on
the whole has proved satisfactory, and they consider that it is
undesirable that all valuations should be carried out by one
authority.
That the Vestry express the opinion that the time has
arrived when Ground Rents should be rated in relief of Local
Taxation.
That the Vestry are of opinion that the system to be adopted
in the collection of the rates is best left in the hands of the local
authorities as at present.
Electric Lighting.— In May, 1889, the Board of
Trade forwarded to the Vestry a copy of Major
Marindin's report, made after his enquiry into the
various applications for Provisional Orders and