In the House of Commons on Monday important concessions were
announced by Sir William Joynson- Hicks with regard to the new assessments on house property. They were received with general satisfaction and an appreciation of their practical qualities. Inci- dentally, Sir William undertook—and we are glad to place this unprecedented promise on record and to add that it has been fulfilled—that the concessions should bo explained to the public in language that everybody could understand. The chief concessions may be thus summarized. When- an assessment is not made before July 1st, 1923, notice of appeal may be given up to the end of the year. A statutory right is to belong to any appellant to be represented by any agent he pleases— even his wife. There is also to be a statutory right to reduction of assessments if during the period of five years the house goes down in value. As regards repairs, the Government will allow a quarter of the annual value on all houses up to the value of £40 instead of up to the value of £20, one-fifth on houses valued between £40 and £100, and one-sixth on houses above £100. Moreover, an owner who can prove that repairs cost him more than these allowances will have the right to appeal.
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