58 Geo. III, cap. 69, 3rd June, 1818.
_An Act for the Regulation of Parish Vestries_.
Sec. 2.--For the more orderly conduct of Vestries be it further enacted
that in case the Rector, or Vicar, or perpetual Curate, shall not be
present the persons so assembled in pursuance of such notice shall
forthwith nominate and appoint, by plurality of votes to be ascertained
as hereinafter is directed, one of the inhabitants of such parish to be
the Chairman of and preside in every such Vestry; and in all cases of
equality of votes upon any question arising therein the Chairman shall,
in addition to such vote or votes as he may by virtue of this Act be
entitled to give in right of his assessment, have the casting vote; and
minutes of the proceedings and resolutions of every Vestry shall be
fairly and distinctly entered in a book, to be provided for that purpose
by the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor, and shall be signed by
the Chairman and by such other of the inhabitants present as shall think
proper to sign the same.
Sec. 3.--And be it further enacted that in all such Vestries every
inhabitant present, who shall by the last rate which shall have been made
for the relief of the poor have been assessed and charged upon or in
respect of any annual rent, profit, or value not amounting to fifty
pounds, shall have and be entitled to give one vote and no more; and
every inhabitant then present, who shall in such last rate have been
assessed or charged upon or in respect of any annual rent or rents,
profit or value, amounting to fifty pounds or upwards, whether in one or
in more than one sum or charge, shall have and be entitled to give one
vote for every twenty-five pounds of annual rent, profit, and value upon
or in respect of which he shall have been assessed or charged in such
last rate, so, nevertheless, that no inhabitant shall be entitled to give
more than six votes; and in cases when two or more of the inhabitants
present shall be jointly rated, each of them shall be entitled to vote
according to the proportion and amount which shall be borne by him of the
joint charge; and when one only of the persons jointly rated shall
attend, he shall be entitled to vote according to and in respect of the
whole joint charge.
Sec. 4.--Provided and be it further enacted that when any person shall
have become an inhabitant of any parish, or become liable to be rated
therein, since the making of the last rate for the relief of the poor
thereof, he shall be entitled to vote for and in respect of the lands,
tenements, and property for which he shall have become liable to be
rated, and shall consent to be rated, in like manner as if he should have
been actually rated for the same.
Sec. 5.--Provided also and it is hereby further enacted that no person
who shall have refused or neglected to pay any rate for the relief of the
poor which shall be due from him and shall have been demanded of him,
_and_ (see Sec. 3 of the next Act quoted) shall be entitled to vote or to
be present in any Vestry of the parish for which such rate shall have
been made, until he shall have paid the same.