• ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN, 319 " exception of the professional ones, and which they submit to this honourable j c Graves " House, requires alteration and amendment;" is that a true or correct state- ' ' Esq. ment ?— It is incorrect I take it, in the first instance, with respect to the annual ^ sums stated. May.) Is it untrue in some facts?— It is. In what particulars do you conceive it to be incorrect?— I conceive the expense of the police establishment does not at all, or by a very trifling sum indeed, exceed the Parliamentary grant. Does the police establishment cost the city of Dublin one farthing?— I think not, except so far as the city of Dublin is a portion of the empire, and shares in the general taxation at large, and in that way its proportion, is, .1 should suppose, much less than one hundredth part of the whole, and does not amount to 300 /. Then you conceive the police establishment of Dublin, so far as they are a police establishment, form no part of the local burdens of the city of Dublin ?— Certainly not; I conceive that by the bounty of the legislature, the city of Dublin are presented with the police establishment free of expense. Then, in point of fact, the citizens of Dublin only pay the watch ?•— Yes. So far as the petition states the expense of the police establishment it is incor- rect?— It is, not only in point of amount, but the statement of it as a local burden on the citizens of Dublin is absolutely unfounded. In point of fact, has there been any increase of the watch tax, within your memory, of the city of Dublin?— Not within my memory, and it remains still as assessed under the 35th of the late king. So far as the expense of both police and watch are together, the city of Dublin only pay the whole of the watch tax, all the excess is paid by the country at large ?— Certainly. J What part of the statement which has been read to you is positively false ?— I do not think that statement is untrue respecting the appointment of the police magis- trates, with the exception of the professional ones being from the body of the corporation. Who is the appointment given to?— The appointments are made from the body of the corporation of all except the professional ones, though the persons appointed are not appointed by that body. What proportion of the police magistrates are appointed by the city of Dublin ?— One- third of the whole; six magistrates out of eighteen. One- third are appointed by government out of the corporation, one- third by the corporation from amongst themselves, and one- third by the lord- lieutenant from professional men, that is to say, barristers of six years standing?— Yes. But in point of fact, government have the power of removing all or any of those ?— Yes; but I think, by the spirit of the Act, it must be for cause, I conceive not at pleasure ; the tenure of the office is during good behaviour ; a power of removal is certainly given to the lord- lieutenant, but it is given to him in this way, having been formerly vested by proceeding to attachment in the court of King's Bench for misconduct; the power that was vested in the King's Bench is now vested in the lord- lieutenant. The whole amount of the expenses of your department, including the police and watch, you have stated, in the year 1821, to amount to 47,000/. ?— Yes. The parliamentary grant, in that year, amounted to 28,000/.?— Yes. Consequently, the excess was 19,000/.?— Yes; but there were incidents that came in incidental funds, that assisted in the payment of that sum. The expenses of the establishment being 47,000/. and the Parliamentary grant being 28,000/. the difference is 19,000/. which is paid by the inhabitants of Dublin, is not that so ?— It is paid by the inhabitants of Dublin, or by other per- sons who being convicted, have paid penalties under penal statutes. How much did the fines and penalties, and incidents of that kind amount to, in 1821 ?— By this account, 1,272 /. composed the fees and fines from divisional offices, figures, fees, fines and penalties, altogether amounting to 1,272/. 15. The balance is raised by local assessment?— The balance of rather more than 17,000/. is raised by local assessment of different kinds, the watch tax, licence duties, & c. And is administered as such by the head police office?— Yes. By the authority of the Act of Parliament ?— Yes, vested in them together with the watch establishment. 549. 3 M Having