The most important Suffrage since the passing of the Reform
Bill has lately been conferred upon the Rate-Payers of Dudley,
by the introduction of the "HEALTH OF TOWNS ACT;" _and you are
now called upon to Elect Fifteen fit and proper Persons_ to
carry out the provisions of this salutary Measure. This day you
have had 40 Names submitted to your notice, as parties wishful
to have the management of the affairs of this Parish confided
to them, and _it now behoves you carefully to consider who and
what class of masters shall rule over you_! A cursory glance
at the List of Names nominated for your approval, clearly
shows that some are incapacitated from age and non-residence
to attend to your interests, and others want the _essential
qualities_ of a _practical knowledge of the working of the Act_.
Recollect, fellow Rate-payers, that £25,000 may shortly be at
the disposal of your elected Rulers, and this sum, too, will
have to come out of the pockets of the Rate-payers!
Improvements we want, but we must be careful _to whom, we trust
these large powers_ to make those Amendments. Let us then elect
a Class of Commissioners whom we know to be of _honest purpose,
independence of character, quickness of perception, mindful
of the judicious improvements of the Town, as well as of the
Pockets of the Rate-payers_, and possess a _conscientious
determination to attend personally to the duties of this
important office_.
Beware, then, of committing yourselves to party
purposes,--political tendencies--family cliques--or honorary
and never attending members. Bear in mind that it is a very
common practice to escape from one set of inefficient Rulers
into the arms of another, often professedly more liberal but
usually more tyrannical and inadequate to the duties they
profess to fulfil,--past experience, in Dudley, teaches the
necessity of this caution to the Ratepayers. Have practical,
honest, business-like men, who will be fearless and judicious
in the discharge of their duties, and _spend your money as
carefully as though it were their own_. Recollect, that men
who have something tangible to lose are the most likely to be
careful about the spending of that fund which they will have
heavily to pay to.
On Tuesday next you will be called upon for the Voting Paper
left at your houses, _write your Initials at once opposite
the following names on the Voting Paper_, and you will
thereby elect such a Board of intelligent and responsible
Commissioners, as will improve the Town and save your Pockets.