The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-11 00:00:00

EQUALISATION OF POOR RATES.

Yesterday afternoon a very numerous deputation,
consisting of several members of Parliament and
about 100 gentlemen, waited by appointment upon
the Earl of Derby, at his official residence in DAvn-
ing-street, to lay before his lordship the inequalities
of the poor rates, and to urge him to allow Mr.
Ayrtou's bill to be read a second time, and then
be referred to a select committee.
Mr. AYRTON, M.P., in introducing the deputa-
tion, went at some length into the history of the
agitation for an equalisation of the metropolitan
poor rate. He said, long before the question came
before the House of Commons last session, a stre-
nuous agitation had been going on, as it were, be-
neath the surface, and having directed his lord-
ship's attention to what took place in the House of
Commons in the previous session, said a kind of
challenge was then thrown out to him to introduce
the matter in a practical form, and in accordance
with that challenge, in the course of the present
session he had embodied the points of the requ,red
alterations in the present system in a bill. Leave
was given to introduce that bill, in order that the
dutadsmightbecome known, and the measure stood
for second reading on Wednesday nest. Having
stated the provisions of the bill, which were stat d
to the House of Commons upon its introduction,
the hon. gentlemen nrged upon his lordship the
necessity of supporting the measure, which would
meet all objections, and bring about such an equali-
sation of the rating as was imperatively demanded.
Mr. FOWLER, the hon. secretary to the Equalisa-
tion of Poor Bates Association, presented a memo-
rial setting forth the inequality complained of.
Alderman SIDNEY, in a very long speech, gave a
history of the Poor-law, and contended that it was
unjust to make some parishes pay over 4s. in the
pound, while others were called upon to pay 7d.
Mr. LOCKE, M.P., and other gentlemen, having
stated their views upon the question, urging upon
his lordship to support a scheme promoting equali-
sation,

The Rev. Mr. M'GILL, "East-end Incumbent,"
who has written a work on the subject, quoted
largely from figures to prove the inequality of the
present system, showing that the rich parishes paid
less than 6d. in the pound, while some of the poor
parishes paid considerably over 3s.
Mr. BLATCHFORD, chairman of the Fulham union,
and Dr. CHALLICE, repeated the arguments ad-
vanced by them at the recent deputation to the
Poor-law Board.
Mr. LOCKE, M. P., then remarked that the prin-
cipal object of the deputation was to request his
lordship to allow the bill to be read a second time,
in order to be referred to a select committee.
The Earl of DERBY, in reply, said he had listened
very attentively to the statements that had been
made to him ; but admitting all the difficulties of
the question, his present impression was that the
principle involved in the bill refined to was open
to many grave objections, and, if carried, would
destroy the whole principle of the poor-law, and
therefore he could not see how the House of Com-
mons could adopt it. It had been suggested that
the bill should be read a second time, and then re-
ferred to a select committee ; but they must remem-
ber that by the second reading the main principle
of the bill would be affirmed, and that principle
being, in his opinion, to greatly extend the area of
rateability, was not likely to be agreed to ; for while
it would have the effect, as he lald said, of extend-
ing the area of rateability, it would remove the
present check upon fraud and mismanagement
which existed under the old po T-law, and diminish
individual responsibility. Besides, he did not see
how they could draw a distinction betweee the
metropolis and other parts of the c umtry--he
thought their arguments applied equally to a general
rate over the country. With regard to a committee,
he thought the subject was a fitting one for inquiry
—an independent inquiry, irrespective of any bill—
which might be of a very useful character, and lay
the foundation for future legislation. In conclu-
sion, his lordship said his opinion was certainly
unfavourable to the principle of Mr. Ayrion's bill
—notbut he thought some parishes might be bene-
fited under its provisions ; but, on the other hand,
he believed, the evil4_,..brought-into existence would
overbalance any good that might be effected.
The deputation thanked his lordship, and then
withdrew.