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6
diminution in the number of appeals by weekly and monthly tenants.
The Accountant informs me that he is not yet in a position to present
a comparison of the loss by allowance of the owners commission under the
present, and the loss under the former system consequent upon the inability
of the small occupiers, but in a short time we shall be able to present
accurate statistics upon that point. I would, however, take this opportunity
to observe, that the allowance of 30 per cent. to owners is in
excess of that given by any other parish within my knowledge. It is
5 per cent. more than is given in Bethnal Green, and 10 per cent. in
excess of the Mile End scale; and considering that after Lady-day
next, when the new Valuation List will come into operation, property
under £20 rental will be entitled to a deduction of one-fourth, to arrive
at the rateable value, while property between £20 and £40 will be
entitled to a deduction of one-fifth, and rentals above £40 to one-sixth
only, it might be desirable to consider whether equity does not require
that scale of allowance to be varied. As six months' notice must be
given to rescind the resolution now in force, Michaelmas would be a
convenient time to give such notices; and if the Vestry so determined,
the new scale of allowance and new scale of rating would commence
simultaneously.
Another important change effected by the legislation of last year is
in respect to the assessment of the rateable property in the parish. The
object of this Act is to ensure a uniform system of rating over the entire
metropolis, with a view to the further equitable adjustment of charges to
bo borne by metropolitan ratepayers. The working out of this Act
belongs more to the present year than the past, and there is nothing to
report to Lady-day of any action taken except that the return papers
provided by the Inland Revenue department have been issued, and many
of them have been returned to the Vestry to be dealt with in the
preparation of the Valuation list. I may, however, for the information
of the public, state that in this parish the scale of deduction from the
gross rental to the rateable value has been on a uniform basis of one
third. This was not only unjust but was entirely opposed to the
rocognized principles of rating. This will in future be corrected by
the now Valuation Act, which fixes the maximum scale of deductions
as follows:—