WILLIAM F. LITTLEDALE, ESQ. 9, UPPER ORMOND-QUAY. Secretaries. W. NEILSON HANCOCK, LL.D., 74, LOWER GARDINER-STREET. Librarian. RICHARD D. WEBB, 176, GREAT BRUNSWICK-STREET. Barrington Lecturers on Political Economy. PROFESSOR MOFFETT, LL.D. FREDERICK G. EVELYN, ESQ. DAVID ROSS, ESQ. THE object of the Society is the promotion of the study of Statistics, Political Economy, and Jurisprudence. The meetings are held on the third Monday in each month, from November to June, inclusive, at 8, P. M. The business is transacted by members reading written communications on some subject in Statistics, Political Economy, or Jurisprudence. No communication is read unless two members of the council certify that they consider it in accordance with the rules and objects of the Society. The reading of each paper, unless by express permission of the council previously obtained, is limited to half an hour. Applications for leave to read papers should be made to the secretaries at least a week before the meeting. Proposals of candidate members hould be sent to the secretaries at least a fortnight before the meeting. The subscription to the Society is ten shillings entrance, and ten shillings per annum. JOURNAL OF THE Dublin STATISTICAL SOCIETY. APRIL, 1856. I.—Is Fire Insurance a proper subject for Taxation? By W. Neilson Hancock, LL.D. [Read March 23rd, 1856.] Or the questions which the good feeling now subsisting between England and France has given rise to, perhaps the most remarkable is the competition in Fire Insurance between French and English Companies. A French Company has started in London, and has offered to insure at 2s. per cent. the same risks as an English company would charge 4s 6d. per cent. for. Whence the difference of price? The English have capital and skill in the business, and great competition amongst the Insurance Companies to reduce the price to the lowest amount. It is found, however, that the difference of price arises from the amount of the tax imposed by the English government. It is stated in the Times that there is no annual duty in France; in England it is 3s. for £100. The premium of Insurance, exclusive of duty, in England is Is 6d. The scale of taxation is, consequently, on common risks 200 per cent.* The contrast thus raises the question whether Fire Insurance is a proper subject for taxation at all. If we examine the tax, we shall see that it offends against the fundamental principles of taxation. The tax is not proportioned to the means of the tax payers. The saving capitalist who invests his savings and spends little and the It is stated in the Spectator of 12th April, that the duty is equal to 7 for £100. I have instituted inquiries in France, but have not got an answer in time for this publication, as to which is correct. VOL. I. PART IV. ૨ |