10 MAY 1873, Page 2

Mr. Stansfeld introduced his three Bills on Local Taxation laSt

Monday in a speech of pure exposition, and it was at once obvious enough that, as we anticipated, they were to be exceed- ingly modest Bills. Mr. Stansfeld stated that the real amount of the local taxation of the country (as distinct from tolls or pay- ments for local advantages, which are rather purchases than taxes.) was only £17,405,711, and even of this sum, only about 111,500,000 had any kind of claim to help from the Imperial Ex- chequer, nearly six millions sterling of the local taxation being expended in a manner directly to enhance the value of the property on which it was raised. It was, therefore, only to this residuum, amounting to £11,500,000 — chiefly police rates (county and rural)—that any claim for Imperial help can apply.