The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-03-07 00:00:00

THE INCREASING
_EXPENDITURE OF THE

COUNTY.

Upwards of forty of the agriculturists of the western
division of the county assembled at Beaminster, March
2nd,under the auspices of the Melplaish Farmers' Club,
to consider the above subject. J. Pope, Esq , of
Symondabury, presided.
The CIAAIRMAN adverted to the fact that there is a
growing conviction in the minds of the ratepayers that
they ought to have a voice in the disposal ot the county
funds. At the present time the expenditure of the
county is determined entirely by the magistrates. A
gentleman had said to him he thought they were going
out of their proper sphere in discussing the present
subject ; but it must be recollected that if their
resources were lessened by unnecessary expenditure,
they were so much the loss efficient in their respective
positions as agriculturists.

Mr.S Tomixn, of Allington, Bridport, read a paper on
the subject for dim:ins-ion. In off, ring some observations
Ml 4 a few details to show that the county expenditure
for some time past had been unnec ssarily large, and
still had a tendency to increase, and, therefore, that
some check was required, he disclaimed any intention
of imputing want of consideration, much legs improper
motives, to those with whom rests the Replication of the
county funds. It was the natural inclination of public
bodies to run into debt. England was, perhaps, the
only country, at the present time, that had an excess
of income over expenditure. There was an old s tying
that "individuals may reform themselves, public bodies
never do." What then was to be done to prevent the
evils of which they complained ? One way he would
suggest was to bring public opinion to bear on the
subject. Let it be made known to those in authority
that the large body of ratepayers felt the increased ex-
penditure, and there was no doubt that, aided by the
press the desired effect would be produced. Their
complaint was that the county rates had advanced
during the last twenty years in undue proportion to our
other public expenses. He cast no reflections
upon the police ; generally speaking they were a
courteous, active, and well-conducted body of men,
anxious to do their duty, and were now, perhaps, in-
dispensable to the security of our persons and property.
Lunatics also must be properly cared for even at a
great cost. Criminals likewise mast be well looked to,
and the law duly executed on them, at whatever incon-
venience and expense. SOL the question remains,
has not more money been spent and greater demands
made on the county than were really and fairly
required? In 1841, the total expenditure wan
£9,817 16s. fed; in 1846, it increased to £11,624 13s. 511.
He had no statement of account for 1851 ; but, at the
Lent Quarter Sessions that year, the justices discussed
the recommendations of the usual committees with a
view to economising. The justices appeared to have
been stimulated to that course by a meeting previously
held at Dorchester, attended by agriculturists, trades-
men and others, who strongly expressed their dis-
approval of the increased outlay and charges on the
county s t fund If the complaints then made were
.
, well founded, what will be said to the following par-
ticulars :—The return for 1860 stands thus: total ex-
penditure' including police, £21,190 19s 11d., rather
an important increase certainly. But, mark agsin, the
statement made up to June, 1164, which gives us the
rather startling figures of £23,529 15s. 2.1. ; so that,
since the year 1841, the county expenditure has been
augmented by nearly three-fifths. Sorely, these facts
are suflieient to arouse the most apathetic amongst us,
and will call forth the energetic efforts of some of our
talented and influential members, and also, we may
presume, enlist the co-operation of kindred societies in
the county of Dorset. It may, however, be said, "Oh,
but the magistrates will do all that can be done to avoid
extravagance, and use all due economy with the county
funds." We doubt not +heir good intentions, but fear
they are not stall times sufficieutly alive to the ruischief
they are called upon to sanction.
Mr. W. POPE, of Toiler Whelin, addressed a letter to
the meeting on the subject. He remarke I that some
few years since, when the county magistrates talked
about selling or pulling down the then lunatic
asylum at Forston, and put the county to £70,000
or £BO,OOO expense in buildiug a new asylum,
those persons who would have to bear most of the
expense 11,-Id a meeting at Dorchester, and expressed
thew disapproval of the scheme, and consequently
the work was postponed until the opinions then
entertained by the ratepayers became lax for
want of energy and combination—as was the cave with
farmers. The work had not been done, and they all,
for many years to come would have to bear the burden
of the expense. Was the new asylum wanted? Would
not the old asylum, with some additious, have answered
all the purposes of the new one, and the great outlay
of money have been saved? He believed their answer
would be " Yes." How was tl at state of things to be
altered for the future? He thought by petitioning the
legislature for Financial Boards, so that those who con-
tributed most to the funds might have a voice in their
expenditure. . . . .

Mr. TUCKER admitted that the primary object of
Farmers' Clubs was to increase the knowledge of their
members as agriculturists, but rLmarked that if the
farmers found themselves charged with burdensome
rates, which they felt by judidous management could
be lessened, he considered it quite within their
province, and indeed, their duty, to make an effort to
bring about such • result,

M. H. N. Cox, of Bridport, said the county expen-
diture was a subject of vital importance to every person
who had to pay rates. The increasing taxation of the
county retarded successful farming. He complained
that the county rate was included with the Poor rate.
If they were set forth separately, people would know
what the county expenditure really was. Now, the
poor had all the blame of the heavy rates. Tee
system now adopted in regard to the county funds was
unjust to them as Englishmen, and contrary to the
spirit of the constitution. Our ancestors in the time of
Charles I. refused to pay ship's-money and other taxes,
because they were imposed arbitrarily ; and our
American colonists took the same course, because they
had no voice in the Parliament imposing burdens upon
them. Was it not, he asked, as unjust for the county
magistrates totax the ratepayers of this county? He had
nothing to say against the magistrates personally, and
especially those of the western division; but the rate-
payers had no foice in their appointment as magistrates.
How could they expect their interests to be as carefully
kept in view as if they elected the men who had the
disposal of the county funds? It was un-English to
submit to the present system as they had done. It had
been well said that Englishmen can pay and grumble.
But grumbling was not sufficient, there must be
action as well. They mud stimulate those who repre-
sented them in Parliament to endeavour to bring about
an alteration, if they wished to have the county expen-
diture reduced. Let them only think that there bad
been an expenditure of about £60,000 for a lunatic
asylum when the old one could have been made to
serve. If the county magistrates had all been men of
business they would have said that a more economical
plan must be adopted than erecting a new asylum. Let
them then endeavour to obtain a County Financial
Board.

Mr. W. ELWOOD, of Symondsbury, thought the
gentleman referred to by the Chairman as being of
opinion that they were going out of their way by dis-
cussing the present subject could not be a payer of much
rates. He could not but think that every man who paid
considerably in the shape of rates would consider he
ought to have a voice in their expenditure. When they
found that in the past 20 years the county expenditure
had increased from £9,000 to £23,000, they must feel
that there was something wrong. He then referred to
the operation of the new Game Act, which he denounced
as a diegrace to a civilised country. What were all
the policemen employed about? Some of them no
doubt were very useful occasionally, but he believed in
their part of the county and others' they were employed
as gamekeepers. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He firmly
believed that they were gamekeepers to • very great
extent of the very magistrates who had the voting
away of the county money. (Applause.) He quoted
the case of William Paddock, who was seen in a field at
Maiden Newton, stopped on the highway, searched, and
a rabbit found upon him. The man said he had been
for a walk in the field, and picked the rabbit up. Ile
I was fined £5. There was nothing to show the man
killed the rabbit. It was probable, too that the rabbit
had been placed there to entrap somebody. If • man
was apprehended for any other crime than poaching,
he was cautioned against saying anything to criminate
himself. Why was not the same practice adopted with
the poacher? Let them not suppose he was an advocate
for poaching ; he was second to no man in his dis-
approval of it, for he believed that the poacher never
made a good labourer. He then cited the case of
Elisha Pitman, a rabbit dealer, who was found with
seven couples of rabbits on the highroad between Hilton
and Blandford, January 26. The Bench, in convicting
defendant, told him that when asked where he got the
rabbits by the constable he should have answered, and
as he did not know where he got them they should
presume (I) he came by them unlawfully, and fine him
20s. and 9s. costs' from which was deducted 75., the sum
the rabbits sold for. Was that the way in which such
cases ought to be disposed of? He maintained that the
law which authorised such a course was a disgrace to
any country. While such • law existed, and while
policemen were allowed to be keepers for the gentlemen
of the county, they must not, lie feared, expect to have
the county rates and poor rates very much lowered.
If a man with a large family was seen coming from a
field with • rabbit, and was consequently sent to gaol,
the expense of his conviction and keep while in prison
was considerable, but the cost of maintaining his family
in the Union during his imprisonment was much
greater, and who paid for it all? The ratepayers
(hear, hear). He felt that it was their duty to endeavour
to get such representatives in Parliament as would do
their utmost to relieve them from the oppressive taxa-
tion they now bore, and a step in that direction would
be the establishment of County Financial Boards.
Mr. H. N. Cox moved, Mr. W. ELSWOOD seconded,
and it was carried unanimously :—" That this meeting
considers the present expenditure of the county is not
warranted by existing circumstances, and would suggest
that the ratepayers ought to be represented by • fines-
Dial board elected by themselves, and not, as at present,
by the magistrates, in whose election they have no
voice." _ _ .

•
, The CHAIRMAN said the poacher would not do his
' duty as a labourer. Whether or not the legislature
acted wisely in giving the power to policemen they had
, done under the new Game Act was another question;
' but he thought he was right in saying that the power
given to the police by that Act had greatly diminished
poaching in the kingdom. [Mr. Ellwood : We have a
great increase of gamekeepers.]
A conversation followed, in the course of which it
was remarked that out of about 70 bridges in the
county, only sir are maintained out of the county
funds, while in the Eastern division there are nearly
100 county bridges. The hon. secret try was requested
to send a copy of the resolution passed to each of the
Farmers' Clubs in the county.
A vote of thanks to Mr. S. Tucker for his lecture,
and to the Chairman for presiding, terminated the dis-
cussion.

HOLLOWAY% OINTIIKNT. - In bad legs, ulcers,
scrofulous sores, and glandular swellings, this Ointment
operates very gently, but very surely, and with a
rapidity that resembles magic. It should be rubbed
into the parts affected, after they had been fomented with
lukewarm water. The purifying and curative powers of
this marvellous unguent have never been disputed by
anyone who has given it a fair trial. It contains not a
particle of any substance of a noxious nature, nor is
there& case on record in which it has done the slightest
harm; while there are authentic reports of innumerable
cures affected by it in all countries. It is as mild in its
action as it is powerful and beneficial in its effects.