Catalogue description Content: Folios 35-36. Letter from the Reverend Stephen Clissold, Wrentham Rectory, to...

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Details of MH 12/11732/18
Reference: MH 12/11732/18
Description:
Content: Folios 35-36. Letter from the Reverend Stephen Clissold, Wrentham Rectory, to Edwin Chadwick, Secretary to the Poor Law Commission. He says that the board of guardians of the Blything Poor Law Union have passed a series of resolutions as instructions to the churchwardens and overseers of the parishes in the union concerning the assessment of cottages and the collection of rates. It was agreed that these instructions should be sent to the Commission before they were issued. He urges an early response because the need of such an arrangement has produced serious inconvenience in the past quarter and threatens an increase in the ensuing quarter. There are many parishes in which the ratepayers are taking legal action but who have been persuaded not to proceed till the assessments for the whole union have been issued under 6& 7 William IV c 96 s 1. In the meantime, the assessment of the cottages will have to be made upon equality with all other property in the respective parishes. However, the principle of assessment within the union varies between parishes and no other instructions can be given to parishes without causing endless appeals against the rates. He reminds the Commission of the necessity of avoiding any ostensible attempt within the union to control the magistrates in the discharge of their duties. The aims of the Commission will be gradually achieved through the churchwarden and overseer scheme under 54 George III c 170 s 113 by subjecting them to the control of the board under 4& 5 William IV c 76 s 95 and not the guardians magistrates. He believes that the drafted instructions comply with the law. He adds that he does not see the point of the paupers attending with the churchwardens and overseers. He leaves the magistrates to require their attendance at the petty sessions. He says that other unions who have adopted other rules harass the paupers and it is not required by the law. But he assumes that the guardians have the right to control their own officers to ensure the proper execution of their duties. Paper Number: 4631/A/1837. Poor Law Union Number 432. Counties: Suffolk.
Date: 1 May 1837 - 31 May 1837
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

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