THE TAXATION OF GROUND-RENTS

LORD ROSEBERY, speaking on the 15th of last month to a meeting of 'The London Reform Union,' did not hesitate to express his opinion that the subject of the taxation of ground-rents is 'beset with snares and pitfalls.' In spite of this high authority, the subject is usually presented to popular audiences and included in election addresses--those attractive receptacles for party chickens which it is sometimes hoped will not too early come home to roost--as if it were quite of a simple nature, exhibiting few difficulties either in principle or practice, and needing for its satisfactory settlement scarcely more deliberation by Parliament than would be reasonably required for a measure intended still further to suppress the crime of housebreaking.