The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-14 00:00:00

LAMBiTH.

OBJECTION OF A CLERGYMAN TO PAY A POOR-RATE.
—On Saturday the Rev. Mr. Bather, the minister of St.
Paul's Proprietary Chapel, near Vauxhall, attended be-
fore Mr. Norton, and complained that a distress fur
poor-rates had been put into his house, though his pre-
decessors in the same office had been exempted from all
rates.

The Rev. Gentleman stated that for two years he had,
discharged the duties of Chaplain to Lambeth Work-
house gratuitously, and at the end of that time had been
appointed to the office by the guardians of the poor, at a
salary of 150 L por annum, and this, he understood, was
to be exclusive of all parochial rates. The overseers,
however, had put an execution into his house for a rate
due in 1845, on a warrant signed in June last, and the
broker left a man in possession.
In reply to questions from Mr. Norton, the Rev. Gen-
tleman admitted that an execution on a former cccasion
had been put into his house for poor-rates, for the year
1846, but it had been withdrawn at his request, to take
the opinion of the parochial board on the question, as to
whether be was entitled to the same exemption as his
predecessors, and it was not afterwards persevered in.
All he required in the present case was that the man
might be withdrawn, to give him time to represent the
case to the parochial board ; but the broker refused to
do so unless the money was paid.
Mr. Norton sent for Mr. Heather, one of the over-
seers, who, with some warmth, replied that Mr. Bar-
ber must have misinformed his worship, when he re-
presented that be had been excused the payment of
former rates since the year 1844, though true it was
that the Reverend Gentleman had, by a trick, done
the parish out of the rates of 1846, and those he (Mr
Heather) doubted not he should have to pay out of his
own pocket. He added, that it was the unanimous
vote of the board that Mr. Barber should pay his rates ;
and he (Mr. Heather) could not therefore think of giving
any direction to the man in possession to withdraw.
Mr. NoaToN.—Mr. Barber states that his predeces
sors were exempt from the payment of poor-rates, and
he, therefore, feels entitled to the same exemption. A
man has been put into possession, he says, for the rates
of 1845, and all he requires is that this man be with-
drawn, until the opinion of the parochial board is taken
on the question as to his right of exemption ; and should
it be decided against him, he will be ready, I have no
doubt to pay.
Mr. Heather—He never will go before the board.
The other distress that I put in he got me to withdraw
in an unhandsome way, by promising to go before the
board, but he never did so.

Mr. Barber—l had not an opportunity of doing so, as
there was no board between the time of taking away the
man and putting him in again.
Mr. Heather (emphatically)—The fact is that I have
been appointed to the office of overseer, to do equal
justice ; and how can I sanction the remission of a
poor-rate to an individual in the enjoyment of 1501. of
the parish money, and at the same time compel poor
working persons, with only ten shillings or a pound a
week, to pay them ? I cannot, and will not do it.
Mr. Barber said that when he was appointed by the
board of guardians as the paid chaplain *to the work-
house, he understood that, like his predecessors, he
should be free from the payment of rates.
Mr. NORT3N had no doubt the parochial board would
do ample justice in the case when it was brought baore
it, and he would, therefore, recommend Mr. Heather to
withdraw the man in possession, from the Bev. Gentle-
man's house until that decision should be had.

Mr. Heather replied, he did not see what good could
be accomplished by this, as, he well knew the opinion of
the Board on that subject, and as foe himself he Idaould
most certainly vote for the enforcement of the rate. If,
however, his worship was satisfied to receive a guarantee
from Mr. Barber, that if the man should now be with-
drawn, and the majority of the Board decide against him
he would admit the man to a re•possession without any,
prejudice or exception to its legality.
Mr. NORTON replied that from what he had formerly
known of the Rev. Mr. Barber, he would undertake that
if the board should decide against him, he should not
only pay the rates for 1845, butjthose for 1846 also. And
upon this understanding Mr. Heather said he had no ob-
jection to withdraw the man.