§ Sir James Grahamrose to move for leave to bring in a bill to provide for the payment of persons employed in taking the census of the population of England and Wales. A very large number of persons had been employed for that purpose, and as the Act of Parliament for securing payment to those persons now stood, considerable trouble would attend it. The Act of 1831, under which payment was awarded to them, had reference to a state of things different from that which at present prevailed. In 1831 the poor-rates were under the management of vestries and overseers, but they were now under the direction of boards of guardians, and relieving officers. Another change had taken place since 1831 with regard to large towns where there were corporations, and in which justices attended the quarter sessions, but they were now presided over by recorders. The act of 1831 referred to justices and not to recorders. The sum granted was only 5,000l., and now in England and Wales alone there were 38,000 enumerators. It was to remedy those defects, which were merely technical, that the bill was intended.
§ Leave given, and bill read a first time.