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72
SCHOOL BOARD FOR LONDON.
The constantly increasing expenditure of this Board continues to
excite attention from the Rating Authorities, who are responsible
for meeting its demands upon the ratepayers. A conference of
representatives from Metropolitan Vestries and District Boards was
convened by the Vestry of St. Pancras early in the year, and Mr.
Bonthron and Mr. Winnett were requested to attend the same, as
representing the Vestry of St. James's. A statement of the views
of the conference was drawn up in the form of a memorial and
presented to the Rt. Hon. A. J. Mundella, Vice-President of the
Council, by a deputation.
The memorial set forth that while cordially acknowledging the
labours of the School Board and being anxious that elementary
education should be fostered in every way consistent with sound
and judicious economy, the delegates assembled in conference,
viewed with alarm and dissatisfaction the increasing burden cast on
the rates by the action of the Board. Among other remedies, the
delegates suggested that the supplanting of voluntary schools should
cease, that the school fees should be revised in such a manner as to
afford the very poorest the "benefits of education while excluding
the children of the better-to-do classes, who are at present attracted
by superior education and low fees, that excessive salaries to
teachers should be reduced, that better scrutiny and improved
organization might effect considerable reduction in other heavy
items of expenditure, and that the whole financial system of the
Board should be reviewed. The deputation was courteously
received by Mr. Mundella, who promised to bring at least some of
the points raised in the memorial under the notice of the Board.
It remains, however, to be seen with what result.
In the month of November a communication was received from
the Holborn District Board of Works, and some other local
authorities, protesting against the proposed expenditure of £53,000
for alteration and repairs to the offices of the School Board, and a