Parochial Self - Government. By Henry C. Stephens, M.P. (Long- mans.)—Mr. Stephens
would have done well to keep back the publication of his book till the time was ripe for considering it. At present, the Home-rule Bill blocks the way, and the Parish Councils' question is hung up almost indefinitely. But when the .question does come to the front, this volume will be found a 'valuable contribution to the discussion, Mr. Stephens does not regard it from the partisan point of view, and he has had much experience in local government, Meanwhile, one difficulty remains apparently insoluble. The democratic principle demands the equality of voting-power. But in most rural parishes this would throw the power of voting into the hands of those who are practically rate-free. In one small parish with which the writer , of this notice is acquainted, there would be twenty voters, six- teen of whom contribute together just one-sixteenth to the rate, or, rather, would contribute, if they paid their own rates, which at present they do not.
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