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With reference to the last column—the amounts of the
rate in the £—it should be borne in mind that the rate
therein stated is only relative to the amount of the rateable
value in the year particularised. The rateable value of the
metropolis since 1871 has not by any means been stationary.
It is necessary, for a correct appreciation of the amazing
manner in which the expenditure of the School Board has
increased from year to year, to keep this fact in view. As
an illustration, it may be stated that in the last ten years
no less than £6,790,000 have been added to the rateable
value of London. In 1870, the rateable value was
£24,600,000, when the rate for School Board purposes was
4½d. in the £. The rate for the year 1890-1, is 11½d in
the £. The present rateable value of the metropolis is
£31,390,000, so that this rate of 11½d. is not merely an
increase of 7d. in the pound upon that of ten years ago;
besides that increase, the ratepayers are called upon to pay
the 11½d upon the £6,790,000, which has come into
assessment since—equivalent to 2½d. in the £. In other
words, if the rateable value of 1879 had remained unaltered,
the rate for the year 1890-1 would have been
1s. 2d. in the £.