In what does their Friendship consist?
They say Small Houses are not profitable;—they assert that they never get half their Rents. Is this true—or is this Libel upon our honest character the best proof they could offer that they are the Poor Man’s Foes?
When sickness or distress has overtaken you, or trade been bad and employment scarce, so that you have been prevented meeting their demands for Rent, which in most cases yields them, from 10 to 15 per cent. upon their outlay—how do they show their Friendship towards you? A small voice says, by sending the Bailiffs,—meaning, no doubt, the “Poor Man’s Friends.”
Again, ask them to improve—nay, even to limewash your ill-ventilated and miserable dwellings,—like the “Poor Man’s Friends” in general, they reply, they can’t afford it.
Ask them for a supply of that all-important blessing, “good water” and like “Poor Man’s Friends,” though you tell them it will not cost them a penny a week, they feelingly reply, “Oh, yes! you can have it, by allowing me to put twopence a week on your Rent!”
They are about to feel for you in reference to the introduction of the Small Tenements’ Act. The present law compels the Overseers to summons you before the Magistrates for the non-payment of every rate granted, consequently putting you to serious trouble and expense.
The New Tenements’ Act compels them, instead of you, to pay the Poor and Highway Rates, and allows them to compound for half the amount rated; thus again showing their friendship for you, knowing that the adoption of the Small Tenements’ Rating Act will injure their interests, but benefit yours.
But turn a deaf ear to their Hypocritical Friendship, for, like Shylock, they will have their “pound of flesh.”
A few words to the Operative Classes, that are now, and, probably have been for years past, Ratepayers. You have, with that forethought which characterises the operative classes of this country, succeeded in making provision for sickness, old age, and death, by joining Provident Societies, and other Institutions of which this country abounds; consequently, you never expect to partake of that fund which the present law makes you pay to, in the shape of Poor Rates.
Then, I ask, is there not something required, when thousands of the labouring classes of your parish, equally as able were they only prudent and careful, who, when out of employment or sick, fall back upon a fund that the present unequal law compels you to subscribe to.