Star.
London, England, 1818-05-08 00:00:00

CONSTABLES IN IRELAND.

Sir H. PARNELL moved, "That a Select Corn-
nsiuee be appointed to inquire into the laws relating
to the office of Constable in Ireland, and to report
.their observations thereon to the House." •
After some observations flan Mix. Pen, who
dieted that the subject required more consideration
than could be given to it this Session, the Motion was
withdrawn till, the pert.

PARLOR VINtRZIS: BILL.
Mr. STURGES BOURNE moved that this Bill
be read a third time.

Mr. CALCRAFT did not mean to enter into dis-
cussion upon this Bill, hut he must say that he felt
very great objections to it. He protested against the
,curtailment of the rights of what were called the
,lower orders, which this Bill proposed to effect. OO
'lower
same principle on which Pariah Vestries, as now
• • attired, were objected to, objections might be
wade against all poor assemblies whatsoever. ,
Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE had also great doubts as
the propriety of the measure, and should be very
glad to hsar any grounds pointed out for this hum.
vation. The only case brought forward to justify it,
- hut the case of an individual. The present mode
a management had been found most beneficial ; he
trusted, therefore, the House would pause before they
set it aside by the Bill now before them. He had
clt resented an unanimous Petition from the Borough
Reading) which he represented against the Bill.—.
sir poor were managed in as good a way, and
that rates were as low as in any part of the kingdom.
Me trusted, therelose, the House would not agree to
the present Bill. ~
Ma. S. BOURNE said. that the object in view was
to follow the analogy of Kirk-Sessions in Scotland,
so far as the very different system of Poor Laws ifs
Englund would admit. In Scotland, the wealthier
classes had the greater influence in managing the
provision for the poor. By this Bill it was propoted
to bring back the wealthier classes to attend Parish
Vestries. Their absence was occasioned by the num•
bets and the clamour of others who attended, of
wihom some were connected with paupers, and 'scone
were employed ir. trades which made it their interest
to be liberal to certain paupers. In 1807, Alr.Whit-
bread had introduced a measure, the same in.pria-
ciple, and similar in its modifications to the preset*.
Surely the lapse of time, the increase a popalatioa,
and the increase'of paupers, had not since 1807 made
such a measure less necessary. Ile begged le are to
read to the House the sentiments of NIL Whitbread
on this subject. He had remarked that the tumul-
tuous assemblies and the clamour of Vestries had
disgusted the wealthier and the more respectable
classes from attending, and, to remedy this, he had
proposed to give two votes to those who paid a cer-
tain sum of poor rates ; to others three ; and to others
four, which was the highest number of votes to be
allowed. Mr. Whitbread had been singularly con-
versant with this subject ; his great attention ensured
accurate discrimination ; and what must have some
weight with Gentlemen on the other side, he could
be suspected of no hostility to the poorer part of the
constitution of Vestries. Ile would appeal to any
Member, whether it was reasonable that one who
paid a third and even half of the poor-rates should
have no more influence inVestries than one who paid
the very lowest sum ? The same principle which
was proposed-in this Bill had been adopted in other
assemblies. It was so with the Proprietors of East
India Stock. Mr. Gilbert's Bill had gone infinitely
farther. It had disfranchised all who had not been
rated to the amount of N. But he now thought it
better, that the right of all, who pay rates, to vote
should be retained ' • but those who paid a certain
proportion should have a greater ntuubm• of votes.