The Municipal Year Book. Edited by Robert Donald. (Edward Lloyd.
3s. 6d. net.)—We need hardly say that this volume is full of valuable information. It contains general statements of the conduct of municipal affairs by (1) Municipal Corporations, (2) Urban District Councils, and (3) Rural District Councils. These are, we presume, official, and naturally vary in interest. Then we have the figures of municipal undertakings,—water, gas, tram- ways, electricity, housing, telephones, baths and washhoused. Another appendix deals with education; others with cemeteries and sewage and refuse disposal. But the most interesting pages are 615-16, in which the rates of various cities and large towns are given. West Ham has the bad pre-eminence of 108. 841., and East Ham follows close with 10s. 4d. These are the only two *here the total is more than fifty per cent. on the assessed value. Those that are 9s. and over are Ashton-under-Lyne, Norwich, Rotherham, and Wolverhampton. At the other end of the Beale are Oxford, 4s. 7d. (Cambridge does not appear); Lancaster and Bournemouth, 5s.; and under 6s.,—Barrow-in-Furness, Belfmt (but it must be remembered that Irish towns are greatly favoured by Government payments on account of police, &c.), Blackpool, Chester, Darlington, Newcastle, Southport, and St. Helens.
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