Piece
See MH 82/12
Catalogue reference: MH 82/49
Date: 1954 Sept 16-1956 Nov 15
See MH 82/12
Item
Folios 181-185. Letter from George Goldsmith, Southampton, [Solicitor], to Mr Baines...
Catalogue reference: MH 12/10998/98
What’s it about?
This record is about the Folios 181-185. Letter from George Goldsmith, Southampton, [Solicitor], to Mr Baines... dating from 17 Feb 1849 in the series Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and.... It is held at The National Archives, Kew.
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Full description and record details
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Reference (The unique identifier to the record described, used to order and refer to it)
- MH 12/10998/98
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Date (When the record was created)
- 17 Feb 1849
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Description (What the record is about)
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- Content
- Folios 181-185. Letter from George Goldsmith, Southampton, [Solicitor], to Mr Baines MP [Matthew Talbot Baines the President of the Poor Law Board] regarding the proposed bill for rating small tenements, the second reading of which takes place on Monday next and it is wished by the Liberal party that no curtailment should take place in the franchise but that the bill should be read a second time and duly considered in committee. He has forwarded copy of letter from A E Cockburn, [Alexander Cockburn MP Southampton] as received by himself [Goldsmith] on the subject of the proposed Bill. Writing from London on 17 February 1849 Cockburn acknowledges receipt of information sent on 10 February 1848 and having considered the subject of the Bill [Small Tenement Rating Bill] suggests that if carried it would exercise a very prejudicial influence on the franchise. He then lists the reasons for this conclusion. If the landlord were rated he would protect himself by increasing the rent by an equivalent amount. The poorer classes of voters would not favour this. While the landlords name would appear the additional administration of a tenants claim may have the consequence of lost votes. Lastly another more obscure point is made. Cockburn summarises by saying he thinks with reference to operation of the franchise the Bill appears objectionable. He concurs with the premise that if a property should contribute to local taxation, and is by the present system exempt, then this injustice should be remedied but maintained it was not a problem restricted to Southampton but common to the rest of the country. He thought the problem should be remedied by a general rather than partial [local] legislation. 'it seems to me that any attempt to remedy the inconvenience to which you have alluded should be postponed till the rate paying clauses of the reform Bill shall have been got rid of.' suggesting that this might be 'not very far distant' giving explanation. In conclusion Cockburn gives permission to publicise the content of the letter, as thought desirable, saying that he wanted to ensure that his constituents understood the basis of his conduct. Annotated: acknowledge then refer to the President. Paper Number: 5322/1849. Poor Law Union Number 407. Counties: Hampshire.
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Held by (Who holds the record)
- The National Archives, Kew
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Legal status (A note as to whether the record being described is a Public Record or not)
- Public Record(s)
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Language (The language of the record)
- English
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Closure status (Whether the record is ‘open’ (available to the public) or ‘closed’ (not available due to a legal exemption))
- Open Document, Open Description
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Record URL
- https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C10606684/
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Series information
MH 12
Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and...
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This record is held at The National Archives, Kew
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Within the series: MH 12
Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and...
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Within the piece: MH 12/10998
Southampton 407. (Described at item level).
You are currently looking at the item: MH 12/10998/98
Folios 181-185. Letter from George Goldsmith, Southampton, [Solicitor], to Mr Baines...
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