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15
Hoping you are enjoying a little change to the benefit of your
health.
I am, Dear Sir,
Yours very truly,
ROBERT PAGET.
E. W. James, Esq.,
Haworth House, Pangbourne, Berks.
PARISH OF ST. LUKE, MIDDLESEX.
Vestry Clerk's Office,
Vestry Hall, City Road, E.C.,
13th September, 1881.
Dear Sirs,
I am much obliged to you for giving me the opportunity
of perusing the Case you propose to submit to Counsel on the
question of re-assessing properties on reductions being made in
the rents. I fear in the face of so many able opinions to the
contrary, it is useless to urge the pure justice of many cases
which are brought to the notice of the Parochial Authorities,
cases in which, if equity was allowed to prevail, reductions should
be made. I cannot help feeling we get into the bad habit of placing
as narrow constructions upon Acts of Parliament as is possible,
sometimes entirely to press out the little spirit infused into them
by their promoters, and thereby permit the continuance of hardships
never contemplated to be created. It is in consequence of
this feeling that I have considerable sympathy with many of
Mr. Paget's observations. I am quite aware that if the argument
he uses be brought into practical working, it might result in
abuse, but I venture to think that the cases in which it would be
abused would be infinitely fewer in number than those in which
substantial justice might be done.
I anticipate the opinion will be ver similar in effect to that
printed on p. 127 of Lumley's Union Assessment Committee
Acts, 10th Edition.
I return the Draft of the Case with Mr. Paget's note attached.