SELECT COMMITTEE ON GENERAL VALUATION, &C.
(IRELAND).
41 1206.
Have you any exact data ?—I
have not.
1207.
If it was shown that the taxation was decidedly not diminished, and at the same time that the "prices of cereal produce were lower in 1862, 1863, and 1864, than in the three years ending 1855, should you not say that there was no occasion for raising the valuation ?—I
should say that if there was a revaluation, these things should be taken into consideration.
120S.
Do you think that those things have been taken into consideration in the estimate of 5 s.
additional in the pound ?—I
think so ; I think that the deductions that were made at the time of the valuation were excessive.
1209.
Is it not the fact that the wages of an individual labourer are higher in the north than in other parts ?—Yes.
1210.
But should you not say that, on the whole, labour was cheaper in the north than in other parts, seeing that you get more for your money by increased industry ?—Yes,
I think so.
1211.
Mr.
M'Carthy Downing.]
Y'ou were asked on the last occasion Avhether it was not the fact that a rate-in-aid was levied in the north to assist the south, and you said you believed it was; did you give that answer as founded upon any inquiry ?—No
; I should like to withdraw that answer; I am not certain of it.
1212.
I believe there Avas a rate struck all over Ireland ?—I
am not sure.
1213.
Y'ou were asked whether, in making the valuation of Ireland, and in your own calcula¬ tion, you took into account tenant-right in the north ?—I
said, no.
1214.
Do you not think that that is an im¬ portant element to be taken into account in the valuation of land in the north of Ireland ?—I
do not see how it could be introduced.
1215.
If a person in the possession of land in the north, where tenant-right exists, Avishes to leave the country or go into business, does he not get a large sum of money in purchase of that tenant-right ?—He
does.
1216.
Do you not think that that increases the valuation of the land ?—I
think it does increase the valuation of the land.
1217.
Do you not think that everything that increases the valuation of land, especially in the possession of a tenant, should enter into the mind of the person who makes a revaluation ?—I
should say it ought; but I know that we did not take tenant-right into account.
1218.,
Y^ou were asked the price of flax, and you said that it was 6 s.
2 d, per stone; are you aware that it is now and has been for a number of years as high as 10 s.
and lis, per stone ?
—I believe it has been.
1219.
That would be a very large element in the revaluation of the north?
— Of course ifc would be an element.
1220.
Y'ou thought that labour was higher in the north than in the south; have you made any inquiry into that particular fact ?—
I have not.
1221.
Do you knoAV what has been paid for labour in the county of Cork for the last three years?—Not
exactly; I cannot tell you with accuracy; I should say from 7 s.
to 10 s.
a week for able-bodied men.
1222.
Are you aware that the usual rate of wages previously was only 4 s.
?—
Y'es; 4 s.
or 5 s.
1223.
I suppose^ you have read the evidence of the late Mr.
Senior before a Committee of the House, upon that point ?—I
have.
1224.
Do you find that labour has risen nearly 100 per cent, in the south ?—I
know that it has.
0.57.
1225.
Have you been in the north lately?—I
haA-e been to Belfast lately.
1226.
Did you make any inquiry into the rate of wages in the agricultural prices of the north ?
—I did not.
1227.
Therefore when you said you thought labour was higher in the north than in the south, that was a mere speculative opinion of your own ; you had no data to go upon ?—I
do not think I said it Avas higher.
122S.
I am right in saying that you had no data to go upon ?—Nothing
but opinion.
1229.
Y'ou have said that you think the prices of agricultural produce were higher in the three years ending 1864 than they were in the three years ending 1855 ?—I
said so from memory.
1230.
Only from the memory?—Only.
m 1231.
Would you be surprised to find that the average price of produce for the three years ending 1855 was considerably higher than in the years ending 1864?—I
thought it was the other way.
1232.
Do you know when the Crimean war took place ?—Yes.
1233.
Do you not know that the prices were exceedingly high then ?—Yes,
they Avent up.
I look upon that as an exceptional occurrence.
1234.
You Avere giving an average of three years ?—I
had forgotten about the Crimean war.
1235.
That will enable you to alter your answer upon that question ?—Y'es.
1236.
Y'ou said you thought that grass lands ought to be valued higher than agricultural lands ?—Yes.
1237.
Upon what principle?—Less
labour is required on pasture land, and the price of the produce, butter, beef, and mutton, is consider¬ ably higher, and grass lands are intrinsically worth more.
1238.
That may be an exceptional thing?—It
may.
1239.
You are aware, no doubt, that the price of butter and meat varies very much ?—Yes
; it has been steadily on the increase for the last few years.
1240.
But circumstances might arise that would cause it to fall very suddenly ?—They
might.
1241.
Then, if you based your valuation upon the price of butter and meat it might be very erroneous ?—Y'ou
must lease it upon something.
1242.
But it might turn out to be a very erroneous valuation ?—It
might turn out that our valuation wTas too high, and that it ought to be reduced.
1243.
You have no power, under the Act of Parliament, to reduce the valuation for 14 years ?
—No, except on appeal.
] 244.
You must take the valuation as it exists?
—It cannot be disturbed for 14 years.
1245.
And not without the sanction of the grand jury of the county ?—No.
1246.
1 believe you have been an advocate for revaluation ?—Yes.
I think that those counties that I mentioned require to be revalued now.
1247.
That would, of course, throw a great deal of business upon the hands of the office ?—
Yes, it would.
1248.
It would require additional hands ?—Yes.
1249.
And it would bring a very large increase to the revenue of the country ?—I
should say it would.
1250.
Does that fact at all operate in your mind in giving your opinion ?
— Not in the slightest.
125 L You said you thought that the improved cultivation in Westmeath would justify its being raised 5 s.
in the pound ?—Yes.
F 1252.
When
Mr.
J.B.
Greene.
6 May 1 869.
