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That many people at present pay comparatively little or nothing in
proportion to their means, towards public elementary education
(which, if anything can be, is a grand national object); the
cost thereof, with the exception of a grant from Government,
and of the fees of the scholars, being borne entirely by the
occupiers of houses and lands.
That in the opinion of your Memorialists it is only equitable that
all persons should contribute, according to their ability, to
matters or things for the benefit and welfare of the community
at large, and that the rateable value of houses, &c., upon which
local taxation is now based, is no fair test of such ability.
Your Memorialists therefore humbly pray that you
will be pleased to take the subject of the Incidence
of Local Taxation into your serious consideration,
and move the Legislature, at an early date,
to adopt such measures as may be expedient to
relieve the occupiers of houses and lands from the
undue burdens above referred to, by an equitable
system of raising the funds for defraying expenditure
of that description.
And your Memorialists will ever pray, &c.
Gates and Bars across Streets.
The Board has, from time to time, had under consideration the
obstruction caused by Gates and Bars across streets and roads, and
the following petition was presented to Parliament on the
subject:—
TO THE HONORABLE THE COMMONS OF GREAT
BRITAIN AND) IRELAND, IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED
The Humble Petition of the Board of Works for the
Fulham District, in the County of Middlesex,
under their Common Seal,
SHEWETH—That your Petitioners have had brought to their
notice very many examples of the inconvenience, annoyance, and
even danger caused by Gates and Bars being placed across public
thoroughfares in the Metropolis. Persons on their way to keep
important business engagements, or summoned suddenly into
the Country, have been stopped on their way to the Railway
Stations. Mourning Equipages have been prevented from passing,
and even the Carts employed in Removal of the Dust and Dirt from
the Houses and Streets and Fire Engines have had to make their
way round other streets to avoid being stopped. Frequent quarrels
arise with the keepers of the Gates, sometimes resulting in serious
injury, and even in loss of life.
That your Petitioners feel sure that your Honorable House will
agree that this state of things is not consistent with the spirit of