On Wednesday, the Equalisation of Rates Bill was read a
second time. Mr. Goschen, though in favour of the- abstract principle of equalisation, opposed it, among other reasons, on the ground that any equalisation scheme should be accompanied by a plan for securing uniformity of valuation. The Bill also failed to provide for better administration in the way of sanitation, lighting, and road-mending. If the rich parishes aubsidised the poor,. some guarantee should be given that the money would be properly spent. On the Bill being read a second time without a division, Sir Julian Goldsmid, in order that the pro- posal should have a better chance of being properly considered,. moved that it should, like the Scotch Local Government Bill, be referred to a Grand Committee, consisting of the London Members, plus fifteen Members to be added by the Committee of Selection. What is sauce for the Scotch goose is not, how- ever, sauce for the Cockney gander, and the Government. refused to listen to the amendment, which was accordingly withdrawn. It should be added, however, that Mr. Goschen, on behalf of the front Opposition Bench, refused to press this plan, but preferred to "note " the refusal of the Government- to adopt the Particularist principle when it told against them.. "After their action on this occasion, the Government cannot• logically ask the House next year to appoint a Grand Com- mittee for Scotch, Welsh, or Irish matters." But cannot they ask it illogically P When the guard assured the bands-. man that "he couldn't have lost his ticket," the musician replied : " Not lose my ticket ? why, man alive, I've lost the big drum." An Administration which proposed an Irish. Parliament plus the retention of the Irish Members, would have no difficulty in committing the minor heresy in Particu- larism pointed at by Mr. Goschen.
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