The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-04 00:00:00

LONDO.S, THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 1869.

The question of poor-rating has now became one
of the noticeable subjects of the day, and all that
bears relation to it cannot fail to po3sess interest.
A very important meeting of the Council of the
Central Chamber of Agriculture was held on Tues-
day, in Fleet-street. It was attended by deputies
from provincial chambers, and members of Parlia-
ment were present. Mr. ANDREWS, of the Somer-
setshire Chamber, moved a resolution for a Na-
tional Poor-rate, which suggests subjects for re-
flection. It proposed that a contribution to
the poor-rate might be raised from all incomes
by the income-tax, and that this should be placed
in the national Exchequer to the credit of the Poor-
law Commissioners. This scheme is well worthy of
consideration, and it is only surprising that some-
thing of the sort was not thought of before. The
pr inciple laid down is a very correct one, that the re-
lief of the poor is a national object, towards which
every description of property ought justly to be caged
upon to contribute. In all these matters much
time is lost before anything is effected of a remedial
character, and yet the burden presses heavily on
some, while the general result is not satisfac-
tory to the public. It was truly observed by the
seconder of the resolution that the present system of
levying the poor-rate is too limited in its area, and is,
betides, of such a character that it cannot be effectu-
ally enforced in many instances. It may be added
that where it is enforced it presses very hardly upon
those who ought not by right to contribute so much
to it as they do, and are either weighed down by the
pressure or give up the ineffectual struggle altogether.
Another argument that may be raised in favour of
making a decisive change is, that the expenditure in
the way of poor-rate has increased enormously, and
it now amounts to a sum between 10 and 11 millions.
All that we have heard of the matter lately does not
promise a speedy reduction in the case, and well
might Mr. PE LLY, M.P., have declared that our pre-
sent poor-rate system was an utter failure. It is
making a step in advance to discover a mistake, and
the best thing is to find a remedy for it ; at any rate
the plan here proposed is worthy of a trial, and should
not be hastily put aside without an effort to addpt it
to general use.

Some objections will be obviated in the considera-
tion of this plan by the knowledge that the
local management must still be preserved in-
tact. We may consider it one point gained
that the matter has been taken up by
those well qualified to judge, and when Parliament
meets it is to be hoped that due attention will be
paid to the question. All that relates to the
relief of the poor has been neglected for too long
a time, and legislation has been in a manner abeyant,
notwithstanding the complaints so frequently and
justly made. The Chambers of Agriculture appear
likely to do their part, in the earnest consideration
that they devote to the subject, and if their example
stirs others from tLe lethargy into which they have
fallen, surely some desired ends will have
been answered, if all the expectations of the
most sanguine are not immediately fulfilled.
It was finally proposed at the ,meeting referred to
that a deputation should wait on the Premier to lay
before him the necessity of an inquiry by a Royal
Commission into the amount and incidences of taxa-
tion. The only drawback to this is that it would
take some time to be acted on, and meanwhile