The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-02 00:00:00

Mi. Ayrton and his Constituents.

Mr. Ayrton, M.P., met his constituents last night
in the Beaumont Institution, Beaumont-square,
Mile-end ; William Newton, Esq., in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in explaining the objects of the
meeting, said it was ten years since Mr. Ayrton was
elected as their representative, when he pledged
himself to meet his constituents at the end of every
session of Parliament, and he had kept that pledge
to the present time. With respect to the question
of Reform last session, he believed hon. mem-
bers betrayed their trust, and that the bill rejected
would not now be accepted by the people. It was
very satisfactory to know that during the discus-
sions which took place both their representatives
were always found voting in the right way, and in
support of the bill.

Mr. AYRTON then came forward, and was very
well received by the great majority of the meeting.
He hoped that in the course of his address they
would listen to him patiently and quietly, and ex-
press their dissent, if any differed from him, in a
peaceable and orderly manner. He thought the
last session was more fruitful than any that pre-
ceded it in dealing with local questions and local
improvements. There was first of all the question
of gas, which was one of considerable importance
to that borough, and although he endeavoured to
struggle against the present monopoly he was not
supported as he should have been by the local au-
thorities, and so the results were not what they
should all desire.

A Voice—Give power to the unenfranchised, and
they'll soon settle these matters.

Mr. AYRTON continued—Whether the people are
enfranchised or unenfranchised—

A Voice—You don't care. (" Hear, hear," and
a laugh.)

Mr. AYRTON continued. He meant to say that
whether the people were enfranchised or not, in
cases of this kind nothing could be done without the
co-operation of local authorities. The fact was,
there were some people present so: anxious about
the general government of the country that they
another(
forgot the important question of how to govern
themselves.
water
was near. )Then,
important
subject,againt eansdupsphloyulodf
not be treated lightly. Last session
an attempt was
made to grapple with this
subject, but he contended
that before anything was done the local authorities
should be consulted
• He was happy to say those of
the Tower Hamlets had done their duty in this re-
spect, and the question would be considered in the
coming session as well as that of parks and open
spaces. An act had been passed giving power to
the Metropolitan Board to preserve those open spaces
for the people ; and certainly it was a great pity that
year after year Epping Forest was being enclosed,
and one of the most delightful localities near that
borough taken from them to the manifest injury of
their health. Then as regarded the subject of me-
tropolitan taxation, he moved for the appointment of
a committee last session, and in their report they
said they did not desire or intend any increase in
taxation, but placed increased burdens on the owners
of property who had large interests at stake, and
would take care they were not unjustly dealt with.
He was an advocate for an equalisation of taxation.
He did notwant twenty lord mayors or an additional
number of aldermen in the metropolis, but to im-
prove by every means in their power the excellent
act passed some years ago by Lord Llanover. With
respect to the administration of the poor law he
found much fault with it, and the only remedy he
thought was to remove the root of the evil, which
was the infliction of heavy rates on poor districts,
while the rich paid comparatively nothing. This
portion of London had recently suffered heavily,
and although liberal sums of money had been gene-
rously given, he would remind them that the whole
of the sum so given did not amount to a penny in the
pound. (Hear, hear.) It was said.the House of Com-
mons was the cause of the present unjust mode of
taxation ; but, after all, nothing could be done
unless the working people helped themselves.
(Hear, hear.) The house had no doubt an inclina-
tion towards Imperialism, and to have public works
managed by officers of the Crown, to which he be-
lieved there was a very great objection. The work-
ing people had done a great deal latterly for them-
selves by means of trade societies and unions, for it
was their right to combine together to advance their
mutual interests. These combinations were formerly
illegal, but Parliament gave them subsequently per-
fect freedom in this respect, provided they did no-
thing to restrict industry or produced any disaster
among their employers. They had recently been
told that some of these were illegal, but he con-
tended that the sound principle of political economy
was to let every man be free in the exercise of his
industry and skilled labour. (Cries of " Question,
question.") Some among them were so anxious
and impatient that before he finished one sentence
they wished to hear the next--(hear, hear)—but he
had no hesitation in saying that many of the upper
classes who condemned these societies did not under-
stand or appreciate the good they achieved. With
respect to their sptdtrt of education at present it
seemed to have pagged ditet the heads of the great
body of the people, and who were not able to educate
themselves. (Cries of " Reform, Reform," and
some interruption.) He had had put into his hands
an appeal, in faVonr of registered residential man-
hood titifiragd—z(iotici cheers);—brit he would ask
those who gave it to him whether they were ad-
vancing the question when they interrupted him
on the subject of education. They had a right,
however, to hear his views, and his opinion was
that they must enfranchise every householder, and if
a man were not able to have a whole house he
should have a vote for half of it. They must also
have a re-distribution of political power, for he con-
tended that it would be injurious to the general in-
terests of the country to add to the number of voters
in corrupt boroughs, and thus make rotten boroughs
more corrupt, and corruption more extensive. (No,
no.) They might cure it in large boroughs by the
ballot, but in small towns it would be utterly im-
possible. (Hear, hear.) He was not one of those
special reformers who wanted to wed a principle