The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-12 00:00:00

JEIR•AT-LAW SOCIETY.

The NOBLE LORD also presented a petition from
the managers of the Heir-at-law Society, com-
plaining of the conduct. of certain city magistrates
in hearing charges against them relating to the way in
which their society was conducted, without giving them
an opportunity of meeting these ex parte statements.
The Noble Lord said that this was a subject which had
been repeatedly complained of. The magistrates had no
right to entertain these charges nor even to listen to
them, and he hoped that an end would be put to a mode
of proceeding so unfair.
NATIONAL POOR RATE.

Lord WALS INGHAM presentecfa Petition from
Swaffham, in the county of Norfolk, praying for the
abolition of the present law of settlement, and that a
general national rate should be enacted. The Noble
Lord did not wish to be understood as concurring with the
petitioners in all they had stated, but was of opinion that
the subject was one into which inquiry should be made.
It gave him great pleasure to hear that it was the inten-
tion of the Noble Lord near him (Richmond) who had
paid a good deal of attention to the matter, to move for
a Committee of Inquiry into the subject, and he would
suggest, that in the event of the Committee being
granted, their inquiry should be directed to the levying
of an equal rate throughout all unions. It appeared to
him that it would be a great advantage over the present
union of settlements. It would at once open up to the
labourer an ample field for employment, while it would
revive that pecuniary interest in the rata-payer, which
was supposed by some to be of so much advantage.
The Duke of RICHMOND said, as the Noble Lord
had alluded to what had fallen from him with respect to
the Law of Settlement, he wished to say a few words.
He had stated, and he now repeated it, that a more
clumsy measure was never introduced and passed
than the Law of Settlement. It was origi-
nally proposed as a much more extended
measure, but half of its original provisions were left out,
and the lawyers did not agree as to the working of the
portion that remained. It had done great mischief, and
if a committee were appointed, and he should move for
one on a future day, the injurious effects of its working
could be proved. Nothing did so much mischief as the
continual alterating of the law of settlement, as the poor
found it difficult to ascertain, from the different views
th
properatpreva wayiled prevailed, any
claim them.ydefiniten
notion of the settlements and
the
Earl FITZ WILLIAM approved of the principle of
the present Law of Settlement, yet he admitted the
clauses-were so involved that its working was most de-
fective and injurious. He thought that if the poor-law
guardians had certain rules laid down for their guid-
ance in matters referring to the removal of paupers, by
some central authority, there could not possibly be any
ground of objection.
Lord BEA UMONT said that an evil of considerable
magnitude had lately arisen in the construction of cot-
tays upon the land at:the lowest possible prices, and let-
ting them at the highest rents, without paying any rates
for them. He thought that with reference to the Poor-
lawit Settlement Bill passed last session, that was a mea-
sure that was both just to the rate-payer, and generous
to the pauper. There was one point which the Noble
Lord who presented the petition should consider well,
that was, whether the fact of high wages being given at
some places might not act as a sort of advertisement for
drawing paupers from the poorer districts.
The Earl of STRADBROKE was of opinion that al!
property should be rated. He knew a place where there.
were from 700 to 800 small cottages exempted from as
sessment. In Ilchester so great was the number of
houses exempted, that forty-five per cent. of the rates
were left unpaid.
Lord WALSINGIIAM agreed with the Noble Lord
that the small occupier should be rated, as it would give
them an interest in keeping down the rates as much as
possible.
CRIMINAL LAW AND JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

Lord BROUGHAM gave notice that, on Monday
next, he would present a petition from the magistrates
of Liverpool on the subject of the administration of
criminal law, and of juvenile offenders.