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15
Committee of 15 members, and the Finance Committee of 0
members, and that the alterations should take effect after the
close of the financial year— i.e., the 25th March, 1898. The
Report was adopted, and the several Committees have been
reconstructed accordingly.
In November, 1892, a circular letter was received from the
Vestry of St. George-the-Martyr, forwarding copy resolution
passed by them as follows :
" That this Vestry invite a Conference of Guardians and Vestrymen in
the Metropolis to take into consideration the advisability of
approaching the President of the Local Government Board on the
subject of the present I'oor Law System."
The Board appointed Mr. Grattan and Mr. Hayward as its
delegates. The Conference took place at the St. George's Vestry
Hall, Borough Road, on the 14th November. 11 Boards of
Guardians, 9 Vestries and 8 District Boards being represented,
and the following resolutions were passed:—
"That, in the opinion of this Conference, the Poor Law of this Country
whilst easting a heavy burden upon the Ratepayers, has failed in a
great degree to relieve suffering amongst the deserving poor, whilst
it has provided adequate salaries and inadequate work for an army
of officials; and this meeting, therefore, considers that it requires
amending, amongst others in the following particulars :—
1. That, by an equalisation of the Poor Hate over the whole of the
metropolitan area, in order that the poorest parishes in which the
unemployed and destitute mostly congregate should not have to
bear the heaviest poor law burdens, whilst the rich parishes, from
which the poor are driven out, escape their fair share of the
burden.
2. That by the issuing of an order that all Boards of Guardians, at
least one month before the annual election, issue a report showing
their receipts and expenditure up to the preceding December 31st as
compared with the receipts and expenditure for the preceding twelve
mouths.
8. That by the abolition of the property qualification for Guardians,
the establishment of vote by ballot, and the abolition of the system
of plural voting; also that the Returning Officer shall not be a
servant of the Board.
4. That by the issuing of an order admitting the ratepayers, as a matter
of right, to the deliberations of the ordinary meetings of the
Guardians.
6. That by the release at an early hour of able-bodied poor, compelled to
seek a night's shelter in the workhouse, when they desire to obtain
work, unless such paupers are known to belong to the habitual
class."
Poor Law
System.
In November, 1892, a letter was received from the Vestry of
Christchurch stating that at a meeting of the Christchurch
Library Commissioners, held on the llth November, the following
resolution was passed :—
"That the attention of the St. Saviour's District Board of Works be
called to the uncleanly condition of Robert Street, Charles Street
and Price's Street, and that, in the opinion of the Commissioners,
Christchurch
Library
Commission.