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

HEIR AT LAIN SOCIETY.

The NOBLE LORDaIo Pre;eritYd 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 thy way in
which their society was conducted, without giving them
an opportunity of meeting these ex parte blatem, ma.
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 eud would be put to a mode
of proceeding so unfair.
NATIONAL POOR RATE.

Lord WALSINGHANI presented a petition from
Swaffham, in the county of Norfolk, praying fur 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 tor
a Committee of Inquiry into the subject, and he would
suggest, that in the event of the Committee being
graited. their inquiry should be directed to the levying
of en equal rate throughout all unions. It appeared to
trtn thst it would be a great advantage over the present
union of settlement,. It would at once open up to the
lab surer an ample fe..4d 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.
Ile 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, bat 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
that prevailed, any definite notion of the settlements and
the proper way to claim them.
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-
tective and injurious. He thought that if the poor-law
guardians had certain rules laid down fur their guid-
ance in matters referrFg to the removal of paapers, by
some central authority, there could out possibly be any
ground of objection.
Lord BEAU moNT said that an evil of considerable
magnitude had lately arisen iu the construction of cot-
tag !s upon the land ar.r.he lowest possible prices, and let-
ti; g; them at the highest rents, without pay ing any rates
for thee). He thought that with reference to the Povr-
law SAtlement Bill passed last ses:fion, that it 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 p .titian should consider well,
that was, whether the fact of high w.ges 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 all
property should be rated. He knew a place where there
were from 700 to 800 small cottages exempted from as
sessment. In Ilehester so great was the number of
houses exempted, that torty-five per cent. of the rates
were left unpaid.
Lord WALSINGHAM 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 us
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.