The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-14 00:00:00

brought up in a suitable manner, and the aged

and infirm afforded the consolations of religion,

according to that form of worship to which they

are conscientiously attached. These are not

only reasonable, but legitimate claims, and we
cannot help thinking that our cotemporaries who
hare so frequently and sulkily carped and snarled

at the desire of "Nonconformists" to enter the

Parish Board, betrayed too openly the designs of

party exclusiveness, and its desire to hide from
public scrutiny, all its actions as a representative

body sitting in Brownlow-hill.

In addition to Church Wardens and Overseers,
:he General Parish Vestry to-day have also to

elect some members of the Select Vestry, whose
chief duties relate to the care and guardianship
of the poor. The rate-payers do not require to

be told that this is an office which dOei not call

'or the exercise of any peculiar religious dogma.

The qualification of a Select Vestryman, should

consist in business habits, probity, and honour;
a feeling for the sufferings of the poor, and a
detestation of anything approaching partiality
or party favour. If there be one thing more
deplorable than another, it is the unmeaning,
and, in some instances, vulgar squabbles, of a
Parish Board. Generally the proceedings of the

Select Vestry have been noted for decorum, and

the debates free of that bitter and acrimonious

anguage which certain Poor Law Guardians in

dulge in, not far beyond the torough boundary

At the same time there have been discussions

which provoked " a scene," as the reporters
term it. On such occasions, principles of bigotry
were enunciated, fanaticism was unveiled, and
the moral feelings shocked by the use of ungentle-
manly epithets. At present we shall not single
out any names. The public know them well,
and the Ratepayers in Vestry assembled this day
should show that they discountenance such pro-
ceedings, come from what quarter they may ; and,
what is more, that they are fully resolved to
purge the Parish Board of such one-sided
brawlers.

One of our Saturday cotemporaries complains
that the mercantile interest is unrepresented in
the Select Vestry. If this be so, they have only
themselves to blame for such a state of things.
Let them attend the Vestry to be held to-day,
and propose one of their order, and if he be a
good man and true, not wedded to party, and is
known to have the good of the parish at heart,
he will be sure to meet with approbation. The
ratepayers have no interest in the election of any
but gentlemen disposed to serve the parish, with
the view to keep down useless expenditure, and
who will administer the monies collected for
the support of the poor to the best advantage.
As a local board, we desire to see the Select
Vestry the exponent of public opinion. To be
so, all sects and classes must be placed thereon,
and it is with the view of seeing that accom-
plished that we have thus written. We are only
anxious to know that, when that Board meets,
every member will be animated by the feelings
just described. Too long has a contrary prin-
ciple been acted upon. Too long has the
minority attempted to have the sole rule and
control of our pauper population. Too long has
the Vestry Board been looked upon as a place
where party intrigue could be carried on, jobbery
perpetrated, and the conscientious scruples of
Dissenters and Roman Catholics set at nought.
This is not a time for the renewal, much less the
continuance, of such objectionable proceedings.
We are, therefore, induced to ask the ratepayers
to attend the Vestry this day, to join in no
factious proceedings, but determined to support,
and, if need be, vote for such gentlemen as
Churchwardens, Overseers, and Select Vestry-
men, irrespective of creed or politics, as are most
likely to serve the parish, and administer its
affairs with a pure and upright intention.
There is another reason why the attendance
should be large. Our readers are too well aware
that certain nefarious practices have taken place
at the Necropolis ; now a Burial Board has to
be elected ; and from what has occurred at Low
Hill, it behoves the ratepayers to look well after
the constitution of that Board. Its duties, in a
larLre population like Liverpool, are most impor-
tant. We want no dominant faction to consti-
tute its members. We want fair representation.
We ask nothing more, and the people should not
be satisfied with anything less.
Another remark, and we have done. It has
been the custom for the retiring Churchwardens
and Overseers to nominate their successors. By
many of the ratepayers the non-confirmation of
these nominations is regarded as a want of
courtesy to the retiring officers, and they there-
fore give their support to the nominees, without
ever questioning their qualifications. Such a
principle is wrong, and its practical application
most detrimental to th 3 best interests of society.
We hope, therefore, that in to-day's proceedings
the attempt, should it be made, will be discoun-
tenanced, and that a faithful account of all
monies in hand will be rendered, so that taxation
may be kept down, and our Poor Law adminis-
tration worthy the imitation of ev,fry union in the
country.

AT the meeting of the Health Committee on
Thursday last, Mr. Alderman DOVER, in the
absence of Mr. BECKWITH, the Chairman of the
smoke Prevention Committee, made a very
serious charge against the magistrates for not
affording that support to the Committee which
they consider necessary to enable them to
carry out the provisions of the Smoke Prevention
Act. According to Mr. DOVER'S statements, the
penalties inflicted by the Bench on certain par-
ties, who were charged with infringements of the
Act, were not sufficiently severe—at least the
Committee thought so. On the previous Friday
the following parties were summoned before the
magistrates, namely : Messrs. WRIGHT and
CROSSLEY, of Rainford-square ; the Birkenhead
Commissioners, for one of their ferry-boats; and
Mr. RAINFORD, of Renshaw-street. In the two
former the Justices imposed a penalty of 20s.
each, and in the latter 10s. and costs. Now, we