REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES: N. B.-THE Figures at the beginning of the line, correspond with the N° at the foot of each Report; and the Figures at the end of the line, refer to the MS. Paging LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TAXATION OF TOWNS (IRELAND) : 262. Report from the Select Committee on Local Government and Taxation of Towns (Ireland); with the Proceedings of the Committee, p. 1 205. Report from the Select Committee on Merchant Seamen Bill; together Ordered,-[Friday, 22nd February 1878]:-THAT the Select Committee of last Session "to inquire into the operation in Ireland of the following Statutes, 9 Geo. 4, c. 82, 3 & 4 Vict. c. 108, 17 & 18 Vict. c. 103, and the Acts altering and amending the same; and to report whether any and what alterations are advisable in the Law relating to Local Government and Taxation of Cities and Towns in that part of the United Kingdom," be re-appointed. THAT the Committee have power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records. REPORT. THE SELECT COMMITTEE appointed to inquire into the OPERATION in IRELAND of the following STATUTES: 9 Geo. 4, c. 82, 3 & 4 Vict. c. 108, and 17 & 18 Vict. c. 103, and the ACTS altering and amending the same; and to Report whether any and what alterations are advisable in the Law relating to LOCAL GOVERNMENT and TAXATION of CITIES and TOWNS in that part of the UNITED KINGDOM;--HAVE considered the matters to them referred, and have agreed to the following REPORT: YOUR Committee, having been first appointed in the Session of 1876, commenced their labours by taking evidence as to the general provisions of the several statutes above mentioned, and the number of cities and towns to which they apply; and then proceeded with a more detailed investigation into the circumstances of the City of Dublin. In the progress they made, your Committee came to the conclusion that a material portion of their inquiry could be more advantageously and conveniently conducted by means of local investigations held in the several towns in which municipal bodies exist under any of the statutes referred to them, to ascertain the facts connected with the property and revenues of such municipal bodies, the rates levied by them for municipal and sanitary purposes, and the mode in which the property, revenues, and rates are administered and applied. In consequence of a report made by your Committee to this effect, his Grace the Duke of Abercorn, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, issued a Commission, on the 31st August 1876, to Messrs. Corbett, Lawless, Q.c., and Exham, Q.c., authorising them to hold such local inquiries. These gentlemen accordingly visited and reported on the following towns:-Ennis, Rathkeale, Mallow, Killarney, Tralee, Skibbereen, Clonakilty, Kinsale, Queenstown, Bandon, Youghal, Parsonstown, Dungarvan, Nenagh, Fermoy, Tipperary, Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, Kilkenny, Carlow, Athlone, Bray, Carrickfergus, Ballymena, Armagh, Newtownards, Downpatrick, Lisburn, Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Belfast, Trim, Wicklow, Portadown, Dundalk, Ardee, Kells, Naas, Drogheda, Enniskillen, Londonderry, Coleraine, Fethard, Tuam, New Ross, Cookstown, Newry, Dublin, Wexford, Sligo, Galway, Cashel, Kingstown, and Dalkey. Your Committee, when re-appointed in the Session of 1877, had before them the evidence taken locally by the Commissioners, and their reports on the towns which they had visited. They then proceeded both to investigate fully the general questions referred to them, especially those concerning the different forms of the municipal franchise; and also to hear further evidence specially bearing on the towns comprised in the Reports of the Commissioners, from witnesses who desired to give any explanations of a personal character with reference to statements made in evidence before the Commissioners, or to express any dissent from their Reports. At the end of the Session of 1877 your Committee further reported that they would be in a better position to arrive at a correct decision as to the best system of local government and taxation for towns in Ireland, if they had before them full information regarding the existing state of local government throughout country, viz. : 1. Existing limits of local government. (a.) Areas. (b.) Local authorities. 2. Matters which are locally administered. 3. Amount of local taxation. |