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LOCAL TAXATION IN COPENHAGEN. 51 T g . compare the surplus of assets of tlie two eities we must certainly take into account the second class of properties above named in the Copenhagen assets, and adding them to the stated surplus we have a surplus of about £7 15s. per head of the population. In Manchester the surplus assets also amount to approximately £8 per head of the population, being less than a shilling under that figure. On this point, then, the economic status of the two eities is closely similar. In the matter of debt Manchester’s £29 lOs. per head contrasts rather strongly with Copenhagen’s £9 lOs. per head. The difference between these two figures is about sufficient to cover the Ship Canal Loan and the very large debt of the Water Department. T6 return to revenue, the tax revenue per head of the popu­ lation in Manchester has averaged about 28s. 6d.* in the last five years ; in Copenhagen it has averaged, in 1894-9\, about 24s. 7d. per head, or 14 per cent less. It is to the mode of raising this revenue that I wish to particularly direct your attention. At home, local taxation is, in one sense, simplicity itself ; a rate in the pound on the assessed annual value of all property falling within a certain class, practically on land and buddings. The £3,000,000 at which, roundly, the net annual value stands assessed is distributed between different heads as follows:— f £ Dwelling-houses under £10 n et................................. 546,000 Orher Dwelling-houses...................................... 532,000 Warehouees...................................................................... 710,000 Railways, Canals, Tramways, Telephones, Gas, Electricity, and Watermains and Works............ 340,000 Mills and other Manufacturing Premises .............. 256,000 Shops...... ........................................................................ 373,000 luns and Public-houses .............................................. 163,000 Public Property, Land, and Sundry......................... 153,000 * Not including the rate levied for poor-relief purposes, which would add about 6s. to the sum stated per head. f The following statement relating to Copenhagen in 1895 may be compared with the above table. Gross yearly rental of— £ (а) Premises used entirely as dwellings...................................... 1,215,900 (б) Premises used partly as dwellings, partly for business .... 811,200 (c) Premises used entirely for business ...................................... 558,900 Total.................................. 2,086,000 To the total an addition of about 1 per cent for imperfect returns must be made. The gross rental in Copenhagen works out at £6 per inhabitant nearly, though shops, ofiices, and workshops alone, in addition to dwelling-houses, appear tobo included in the return from which these figures are derived.