24 APRIL 1959, Page 20

The 6pettator

APRIL 26, 1834

THE House-tax is to be abolished; and as it is grossly unequal, and the Whigs lacked the sense and spirit to equalize it, in such a manner as to give it the fair character of an income-tax, on the principle laid down by ADAM SMITH its original suggestor, it is certainly high time. London, with its Metro- politan county, pays nearly a half of the Whole tax; all farm-houses, constituting nearly one-third of the rateable houses of Great Britain, were shamefully exempted from it; Ireland is exempted altogether; several counties in Wales might be quoted, which do not contribute so much as a single house in London; while the houses of the nobility and upper class of gentry are scandalously favoured throughout.