Star.
London, England, 1821-04-27 00:00:00

THE POOR LAWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.
Sts—The unfavourable change in the circum-
stances of Agriculturists, which occasions necessarily
a want of employment for the Poor, and an enor-
mous charge for their maintenance, gives rise to two
important questions, viz.
Ist. Why should that charge fall exclusively on
the ticcupiers of land and real property ?
2d. What means can be devised for spreading the
burthen over the whole community, without endan-
gering the general or local supply of relief, and
without occasioning an uncontroulable extension of
the demand for it?

With respect to the first, it might be thought suf-
ficient to remark, that the law makes no distinction
as to the nature of the property chargeable. By law,
personal, as well as real property, is liable to be
rated; but as it has been decided that an individual
can only be charged upon visible personal property,
existing in the parish where he resides, and as there-
fore a fresh valuation would be necessary every rate
that were made, it is considered practically impos-
sible to act upon the law, and in point of fact it
is rarely attempted. The landholders and house-
holders are therefore subjected to the whole charge ;
but if, in conformity to the declared meaning of the
institution, they can shew a means of rendering the
rates general on all property, instead of being pecu-
liar on theirs, they establish a valid claim on the
Legislature to supply the means of fulfilling the ori-
ginal intent of the Act.

To accomplish this, the Poor Laws, which, in
would perhaps in the course of the winter, have to
their existing state, or under any modification, will
draw out the whole of his deposit, as well as the por-
not admit of this equitable principle being carried
tion of the fund accruing in his favour.
into effect, must be completely altered. The present
The proportions here pointed out may not, how-
mode of
ery a grantiuthng
orrelief has also h
concurring
jud than t writer of this arcle ; and he is of opi-
this, all people practically as well as theoretically
nion,ge that inhe the commencement of the new system,
versant in the subject, are convinced that the ab-
the amount of deposit giving claim on the new fund
straction of such a resource from the poor is utterly
should be less, perhaps, indeed, he has carried the
impossible ; and, therefore, a discussion of the pro-
the scale too high for the final or permanent system.
friety or justice of such an attempt (which, after
The first quarter of the property tax, should be
ong enjoyment, appears like a violation of the pro-
pffty of the poor) is quite superfluous. Supposing, according to such limited rate per cent. of charge, as
would make the quarter's produce correspond with
however, that the present mode of relief of the poor
the quarterly appropriation to the fund, and the corn-
were, on account of its acknowledged injustice and
mencement of it should be arranged so, that the ac-
pernicious effects and tendency, to be altered, what
tual receipt may precede the period fixed for the dis-
are the principles to be established, and the objects
tribution of it, and at the time &zed for the first dis-
to be obtained under the operation of a new system,
tribution, the taxes on salt, soap, candles, leather,
to render it preferable?
and wool, and the system of compulsory parochial
In the first place, it ought to be admitted that the tsessment for the relief of the poor, ought to be abo-
resource of the poor, in their claim on their respec- 'lished for ever, except as to be hereafter pointed out.
tive parishes, being sanctioned by long possession The account of deposits should be made up month-
and established by law, is tantamount to an existing iy , and printed forms of the scale of distribution
ascertained property, or rather an authorized parti-
should
be published suarterly, and transmitted to
cipation in the property of others ; and, therefore, every savings bank in the kingdom, and another
that Legislative interference with it is only expedient form put up on every church door.
for the objects of perverting certain future evil and It is contemplated that the sum to be divided be
contention, and of defining, without rertpcing, the fixed, say £1,250,000 quarterly over and above the
extent of claim on the part of the poor, and the de- four per cent. guaranteed by Government; it being
gree of liability on the part of the possessors of the ;supposed that the net payment to the poor, abstract-
property. ing the amount of taxes from which they will now be
In the second place, it is desirable to reduce the exonerated, has never much exceeded that sum.
expense of subsistence and create increased demand
few CosuZscnortaans,Ghlaitu7t.Ars, APRIL 27-.—We have hid but
for labour, so as to diminish the causes of pauperism, zyMbondaya,nrcatepat (rot of which
and that the necessary relief by direct contribution
should be afforded in such a manner as not to de- per quarter the sales were very dull. 'The Wheat ter:dilenewaeof Is.
article the supply any
been
grade the parties receiving it. The following Plan, ceedingly heavy, and only prime picked samples could he gat off
at Illondayi;s prices, all other descriptions are 2s. per quarter
connected in a great degree with the institution ofls. per. quarter er lower, and
. the inferior qua-
Savings Banks, has been suggested with a view to iines,PaueTrnu.stabole:ytti:lngiT,sAnrs and
27Peas thefre,
31:. no alteration.
all these important objects; and if you think proper S to 46.8 d. per
to give insertion to this article, 1 purpose 'to avail stone of sibs.; Mutton, Ss. 6d. to O. Bd. Veal, 4s. Id. to 55. Bei.
myself of future opportunities for explaining and Pork, 4s. 6d. to Ss. 4d. Lamb, 7.. od. to ils. Od.—Cattle at Mar-
exemplifying it more fully, and of discussing, to the ,150 k et.-13eira,"'..54 StrawCal."'n Sheep
ia and Lamb% 51440; Pille
y,31. 10s. to 4i. 79. Clow,
columns of yottr Paper, the means of carrying it into , 41. to Sl. 14.--Strawlle rele.rt—oil.-114.

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