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41
it was thought that the Clerkenwell Local Act,
under which the Guardians or Governors of the
Poor administered the relief of the Poor, had been
impliedly repealed, and the Board ceased to meet
for some time, the Vestry transacting such
business as was left to the Board. In consequence
of difficulty arising as to the proper authority to
collect the rates, legal opinion was taken, the
Board of Guardians or Governors was revived, and
that Board has since collected the Poor Rate, the
Yestry collecting the Local Management Rates.
This cumbrous mode of doing the parochial
business led the Yestry in November, 1892, to
request the Local Government Board to obtain the
repeal of the 15 Geo. III., cap. 23, and 23 Geo.
III., cap. 44.—the Clerkenwell Local Act and
Amending Act, and to transfer all the remaining
duties and obligations under the Act to the Vestry.
The Guardians or Governors of the Poor concurred
in the proposal. The following is an extract of the
Local Government Board's reply:—
The Board have had these Acts under their consideration, and it
would appear that practically the only powers which the Guardians
or Governors of the Poor now exercise under them are those relating
to the collection and recovery of rates. It seems doubtful whether
there is any sufficient reason for transferring these limited powers to
the Vestry. It would appear to be preferable that the Local Acts
should be entirely repealed, and that the rates should be made,
collected and recovered under the provisions of the general law. If
the Guardians or Governors concur in this view, the Board suggest
that they should make formal application to the Board, under the
provisions of section 2 of the Poor Law Amendment Act, 1867, as
amended by section 3 of the 31 and 32 Vict., cap. 122, and section 9
ot the 42 and 43 Vict., cap. 54, to repeal the Local Acts referred to.
The proposal of the Local Government Board
appeared to the Yestry to perpetuate, though in
another form, the dual authority which the Yestry's
proposal was designed to do away with. Under the
general law the collection of the whole of the rates,