On Tuesday, in the House of Commons, the second reading
of the Revenue Bill was taken, and the discussion turned principally upon the new land taxes. In tbst ()aurae of it Mr. O'Brien attacked vehemently the Goveenzaesat's financial dealings with Ireland, which were an oppretioisre intolerable grievance, and were likely to be the 'most thozzar difficulty in the way of working out a plan for Home Thais. There was much opposition to the Governmentle de,ciaien to deprive the local authorities of their share of the Land Vabse Duties this year, and Mr. Hobhouse explained that tlist was to be done in order to counterbalance the £2,@A&UM wile& was taken off the rates by the removal of the .escaper Mequaliti
cation for Old-Age Pensions. Further charges were made by Mr. Pretyman and Mr. Long, who asserted that the practice of under-valuation of sites and buildings was common, and would consequently lead to a great increase in the amount of increment duty to be paid. The Attorney-General replied that the Commissioners of Inland Revenue would be only too glad if cases of alleged under-valuation were brought specifi- cally to their knowledge. The second reading was ultimately carried by a majority of 71 (253-182).
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