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(2.) "The issuing of an order that all Boards of Guardians, at
least one mouth before the Annual Elections, should issue a report
showing their receipts and expenditure up to the preceding December
31st, as compared with the receipts and expenditure for the preceding
12 mouths."
(3.) "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 to the Board."
(4.) "The issuing of an order admitting the Ratepayers, as a
matter of right, to the deliberations of the ordinary meetings of the
Guardians."
(5.) "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."
The Conference also expressed the opinion that it is
desirable that a Royal Commission be appointed to enquire
into the working of the present Poor Law system.
The resolutions were forwarded to the Local Government
Board, and a reply was received stating that
it was proposed that a Royal Commission should be
appointed to consider whether any alterations in the
system of Poor Law Relief are desirable in the
cases of persons whose destitution is occasioned by
incapacity for work resulting from old age.
In November a formal Order was received from
the Local Government Board, reducing the qualification
of Guardians to £5 rateable value. The
Vestry sent a letter in reply to the Local Government
Board, expressing the opinion that the Order
will be of little good unless accompanied by vote by
ballot, and the abolition of plural voting.
Immigration of Pauper Aliens.—In Sept., 1892,
letters were received from Sir J. Blundell Maple,
M.P., the Vestry of Islington, and the Clerkenwell
Ratepayers' Association, suggesting that the Vestry
urge upon the Government the necessity of stopping
the immigration of pauper aliens, especially with