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46
The payments to Central Authorities last year amounted
to £15,951 9s. 4d more than for the previous year, and
to £19,822 17s. 2d. more than for the year 1893-4. It will
be seen that of the total sum raised under the name of
local rates, a very small proportion is applicable to strictly
local expenditure, no less than £142,435 3s. of the
total of £200,680 16s. 4d. having been paid over during
the year to various authorities over whose expenditure the
Vestry and other Parochial Boards have no control. In
other words, out of every shilling raised as local rates in
St. James's, not much more than threepence is spent by
the Parochial Authorities.
THE MAKING AND COLLECTION OF RATES.
Mention was made last year of the action taken by the
Vestry to remove certain difficulties which had been experienced
in connection with the making and collection of
the Poor and other rates under the Local Act of St. James's.
It will perhaps be remembered that just prior to Lady-day,
1895, the Vestry had made application to the Local Government
Board to deal with the rating provisions of the Local
Act by repealing or altering those sections thereof which
necessitate the making of the rates at Easter to cover the
twelve months, from the previous 5th January, so that the
rates in the Parish might in future be made, collected and
recovered in accordance with the general law. In July of
the same year the Local Government Board intimated that
they were prepared to consider an application by the Vestry
for a Provisional Order to alter the provisions of the said
Act in the manner suggested by the Vestry, and stated that
it would be necessary for the Vestry to pass a formal resolution
on the subject, and confirm the same at a subsequent
meeting. The Vestry accordingly passed the formal resolution
as suggested, but when the same came up for