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comprises the parishes of Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting, and
Wandsworth, having an area of over fourteen-and-a-half square miles, a
population of about 190,000, and a rateable value of ^"1,277,688.
2.—That the Precepts of the School Board for London for the
Wandsworth District are served upon your Petitioners and the amounts
of such Precepts raised by your Petitioners and paid by them into the
School Board Fund.
3.—That a Bill (hereinafter referred to as " the Bill") has been
introduced into your Honourable House, intituled " A Bill to alter the
Divisions of London for the Election of the School Board."
4.—That the fourth clause of the Bill provides that for the purpose
of the next triennial election of Members and of all subsequent elections
of Members of the School Board for London, every undivided Parliamentary
Borough in the Metropolis, and every division of every divided
Parliamentary Borough in the Metropolis, shall be a Division entitled to
return one Member of the School Board for London, except that the
City of London shall be entitled to return two Members.
5.—Your Petitioners are of opinion that many of the existing School
Board Electoral Divisions are too large; and this is especially the case
with regard to the West Lambeth Division, of which your Petitioners'
District forms part. Such extensive areas for electoral purposes are in all
respects disadvantageous, inasmuch as Members are not so accessible,
nor so well known to their constituents, and it is difficult for them to
make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the requirements of their
District; moreover the expense of contesting these large constituencies
throws a heavy and unnecessary burden upon candidates.
6.—Your Petitioners are further of opinion that the cumulative
system of voting now in force at School Board Elections ought to be
abolished, as it results in the election of candidates who obtain the
support of fewer voters than the number of voters who support some of
the unsuccessful candidates.
7.—That the provisions of the Bill if carried into effect will remedy
the above-mentioned defects of the existing law with regard to the election
of Members of the School Board for London.
8.—That your Petitioners desire especially to urge upon your Honourable
House the desirability of the amendment of the law in the
manner provided by the Bill being effected before the Election of
Members of the School Board for London in November next.
The Bill was thrown out on second reading in the
House of Commons.