Both these Handbills charge those who have proposed the adoption of this Act with a desire to rob the Poor, by throwing their fair share of the Poor Rate upon those less able to bear it than themselves; and in one of these Handbills a “Curse is denounced upon those who rob the Poor to enrich themselves.”
Now, on behalf of themselves and those who are acting with them, the Committee for the adoption of the Act distinctly allege this charge to be false; and they as distinctly allege that those who have made it, have done so knowing it to be false.
Their reasons for wishing the adoption of this Act are the following:—
1.—They regard the Poor Law itself as one of the great bulwarks upon which the social condition of England rests,—and as one of the principal causes why England stands so pre-eminently high in general Freedom and Liberty amongst the Nations of the World.
2.—So far, therefore, from doing anything which would tend in the slightest degree to lessen the almost reverential feeling which the Committee consider that all should entertain for this most important means of provision for those who are unable to support themselves, they would rather widen, by every means in their power, the basis upon which this provision rests.
3.—While to effect this, they desire all Property to be liable to its fair amount of contribution to this great and important fund, at the same time they also desire to give relief legally to that portion of society who are really unable to contribute thereto, without subjecting them to the harassing and vexatious annoyance of Summonses. This can only be done by the introduction of The Small Tenements’ Act.
4.—Under the present system, out of 6,106 assessments, only 2,223 pay rates; under the Small Tenements’ Act all Property will pay, but the lowest class of houses need only be rated in the proportion of ONE-HALF the amount at which they are now rated.
5.—Under the present system the poor occupier who is unable to pay, can only be excused after having been summoned and appearing before the Magistrates, at a loss of time which generally more than equals the amount excused. This system of summonsing must become more and more oppressive to the poor ratepayer, and more and more expensive to the Parish, under every rate, while the present system continues.
6.—Under the Small Tenements’ Rating Act, the poor ratepayer will be saved all this trouble and expense. No summonses will be required.
7.—Under the Small Tenements’ Rating Act, the poor ratepayer will always, and under every circumstance, be relieved to an extent not exceeding ONE-HALF of the amount at which he is now rated, and that without any loss of time or annoyance whatever: and, this will be the case to the amount named, even where the Landlord charges upon the weekly rental the entire amount of the rate which he will have to pay.