The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-01 00:00:00

MR. GOSCHEN AND LOCAL SELF-

GOVERNMENT.

On Saturday afternoon a deputation of ratepayers of t'•
Pancras, representing the St. Pancras Rates Reduction
Association, waited upon Mr. Goschen, the President of
the [Poor-law Board, for the purpose of presenting
memorial signed by over 1,800 ratepayers, and waking
representations in respect to the alleged extravagant ex.
penditure of the guardians under the new Poor Act for the
Metropolis. The deputation was introduced by I‘lt;
Charles Reed, M.P., and comprised several members of
the vestry. The memorial prayed the board to exercise
its powers to institute immediate inquiry into the
facts connected with the erection of the infirmary an"
schools, and the necessity for the same. Mr. Goscbell
having listened very attentively to the statements of the
several speakers for nearly an hour, said it apPeared. to
him, from what he could understand, that the guardians
of St. Pancras had carried out their work, both as regsrucd„
out-door and in-door relief, under the new Act, scee;,
ingly well, although possibly there were some grail('
for grievance. Of course he could only regard the stlite•
ments which had been made to him by the deputation as etil
parte, and could not be expected to commit himself
nn
he had heard the other side, but he would honestly all'
fairly state to them that the St. Pancras guardians stow;
very high in the estimation of the Poor-law Board. The'
(the Poor-law Board) stood in this position : when did
interfered then the ratepayers said their local matte°
ought to be let alone, and when they did not interfere then
it was said they ought to do so. The memorialists inthisnase
asked the Poor-law Board for an inquiry into what they
described as the "present incapable and almost irreePt
sible system of local government." If we interfere, tw.
ratepayers do not like it, and say we ought to leave the::
alone with their local self-government. This Was
first occasion a deputation had waited upon the preen
Poor-law Board toask them so to interfere. On the ether
hand, they had had many memorials to maintain tilt°
present system of local self-government, and Wit 'c'ci
disturb it on any account. Although the subject ne
already engaged much attention, he had no objection tog°
once more into the matter. The Poor-law Board Were
already in communication, through its inspectors, witll,,tll:t
guardians, and every information would be obtained t't
was desirable. He had called for returns for the elc3c
amount of accommodation for the sick poor, &c., in Out",,
workhouses of London, with a. view of ascertaining whetPtet
such accommodation is absolutely sufficient. He thong
there could be no difficulty in ascertaining this, and upon
that information the board could act. lie had made
note of the statements about the objections to the
of election and plurality of voting, as well as the election
of assessed tax collectors as guardians. Although the/.
might be points for another inquiry, they had nothing to
a
do with the question before them.—Mr. Bryant observe.
that there was also another most unjust and. objection
principle, which was allowing the whole of the wag
trates to become ex-officio guardians.—Mr. Goschen sal
that was a principle which did not touch the present
question, although it might fairly be argued that they
were representatives of the owners of property, ancih
owners were as much entitled to votes as occupiers. 11°der
ever, the whole question which had been brought un
his notice should have due consideration.