The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-14 00:00:00

COUNTY•RATE EXPENDITURE.

MANCHESTER, Dag. 13.
The meeting of deputatioris from boards of
guardians in Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire,
upon county rates and expenditure, held at Newton this
aiternoun, was well attended. This meeting was for the
purpose of receiving and considering a report of the com-
mittee appointed at the meting held on the 23rd July last,
and to decide upon the course to be taken in the ensuing
session of parliament to effect the object of this movement
—that is, the establishment of county financial boards
and administrative biards, consisting of brsards of
guardians and magistrates acting jointly. The chair
was taken by Mr. ToWNLIY Pkimsa, a magistrate of the

eonnty.
to opening the proceedings the chairman corgritul t d
the meeting that they were catkin some progress ; at each
of their meetings the number of deputations had increased,
►nd he was happy to see that this was by far the largest
meeting yet hew.
Mr. ROBERTS, who ofci►ted as honorary secretary, then
read **report from the committee appointed at the last

meeting :
The committee are happy to state that although they have
not devoted the interval since their appointment to active
agitation, yet they have been enabled to keep the subject of
county expenditure before the public, and to secure from all
parts of the kingdom assurances of support in their next sr
plication is parliament for an amendment in the &denims
tratien of county funds. Their first step was to correspond,
through their secretary, with boards of guardians, io order to
elicit from those bodies expressions of opinion on the several
points mooted at the first and second Newton meetings.
the result of this correspondinee has been the receipt of
numerous communications from boards of guardians
throughout Eogtand and \Vales, all at which, with only
two exceptions, are of an encouraging character. In nearly
every instance the writers concur in the proposition adopted
at the Newton meeting on the 23rd July last, "That the
continued pressure of local taxation, and eartictlarly the in-
creasing nature of county expenditure, which now forms
one of the most important items of local' finance, and in the
management of welch the ratepayers have not any voice,
renders it a duty on the part of the ratepayers throughout
England and Wales, to take some decided steps in order to
obtain from the legidature the early establishment of county
financial eni administrative boards of a
_representative
eh Meter."
As an illustration of the general tone and tenor of these
communications, the committee would submit the following
extract from a series of resolutions adopted in October last
by the guardians of the Blything union, Suffolk, the Right
lion. the Earl of Stratbruke, lord lieutenant of the county,
in the chair :
1. That this board is of opinion that the county rates as at
present raised and admioisterd are unequally assessed on the
ratepayers, and bear very heavily on the agricelturel interest,
and that it has now become more than ever important that
the present mode of levying the tax and the expenditure of
the funds, should be efficiently controlled with a new to its

reduction:
2. That the county funds would be more economically
managed if the representative system were adopted in the
thrmation of bords, having the power to raise and expend
e county rataa, which would place the management of such
rates in the hands of a greater number of men of business,
and lead to a speedy reduction in their moat.
3. Toes in the opinion of this board such comity board
should consist of two members, to be elated by. each board
of guardians in the county, one member (not being a justice
of the pace) to be chosen by the representative guardians,
and one to be chosen by and from the ex.odlcio guardians in
each poor law union.
From the Ro.herham union (the Right Hon. Earl Fitz.
will's= in the chair), the Stymph union (the Right Hon
Lord Moatyn in the chair), from many others presided
over by gentlemen of high station and influence, equally
emphatic answers have been received; and it may deo be
added that many boards of guardians, from whom no recent
answers have come to hand, petitioned during the last session
of parliament in tumour of the bill then introduced for the
establishment of County Financial Boards.
Thus encouraged in their labours, the committee gladly
determined upon again submitting the important subject of
county expenditure to the attention of the legislature.
They accord.ngly placed themselves last month in commu-
nication with several members of parliament friendly to
the movement, to whom it appeared advisable that a com-
mittee for considering and reporting upon the best mode of
placing the admisiistration of county funds upon an im-
proved basis, should be moved for early in the ensuing ses-
sion of parliament. The Right Hon. T. M. Gibson having
kindly undertaken to move for such committee—to the
appointment of which no opposition can be apprehended—
it only remains for the supporters of the movement at this
meeting aseembled, to offer to the right hon. gentleman the
smurances of their earnest support.
Mr. ROBERTS also read letters from William Brown,
Esq., M.P. James Pilkington, Esq., M.P., and Colonel
Lindsey, regretting that they could not be present,
but expressing views favourable to the objects of the
meeting. He said there were now deputations present from
Burnley, Rochdale, Salford, Chorlton, Saddlewerth, L igh,
Preston, Barton, Liverpool, Oldham, Bury, Duesbury,
Ashton, Fylde. Chorley, Urinston, and Salford.
Mr. THONIPSON, of Wray, moved the lint resolution,
which approved of the report presented by the committee,
and contained an expression of thanks to Mr. Milner Gibson
fier his kindness in having copneented to take charge of a bill
fa
the next semi to accomlish the oect. of the m
Mr. JOHN BLAConILBURNE seconded the motion, w eethicing.h
was unanimously adopted.
GIBSON briefly acknowledged the compliment, and
dated that he should have great pleasure in taking charge of
their bill, provided no more influential member could be in-
amid to do so.
A vote of thanks to the other members present, for their
presence on the Nation, called up Mr. Wilson Patten, Mr.
James Heywood, Mr. Alex. Henry, Mr. Joseph Brotherton,
Mr. Chaal, and Mr. Tnieknessa, all of whom declared
themselves favourable to the principle of the proposed
Measure.
The preceedings late.' till within a few moments of the
time when our express left.