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86
At the request of the Vestry, the Right Hon W H Smith (who had
previously afforded your Committee much valuable aid) consented to introduce
the subject at the Conference, and to move the first resolution, It may
be convenient to append here a copy of the resolutions passed at this conference,
which run as follows:—
1 —Moved by the Eight Hon W H Smith, M P , seconded by John
Bonthron, Esq , and
Resolved, That in the opinion of this Conference the administration
of the School Board for London has not produced results commensurate
with the vast expenditure of the Board; that the
present cost of maintenance of the London Board Schools is
excessive, whether compared with the rate of expenditure by
the Board in 1873, or with the expenditure of other Boards in
England and Wales, or with the expenditure of the Managers
of Voluntary Schools in London; that in the cost of administration
and some other respects, the expenditure of the Board
will admit of large reductions without impeding the work of
popular elementary Education in the Metropolis; and that the
Board be urged to reduce its expenditure accordingly
2 —Moved by W McCullaoh Torrens, Esq , M P , seconded by the
Rev D Greatorex, B D , and
Resolved, That the various Rating Authorities in the Metropolis be
invited to call the attention of the Ratepayers in their several
Districts, in such manner as they may deem best, to the facts
referred to in the foregoing resolution, and to the paramount
necessity of securing and supporting at the forthcoming Election
of the School Board, candidates of administrative ability pledged
to carry out the provisions of the Elementary Education Acts
with a due regard to economy
3 —Moved by John Stephenson, Esq , seconded by E Spring, Esq , and
Resolved, That the Chairman be requested to sign on behalf of this
Conference a Petition to the House of Commons, for the appointment
of a Select Committee to enquire into the expenditure of
the School Board for London
4 — Moved by W A Lindsay, Esq , seconded, and
Resolved, That the several Vestries and District Boards of Works
in the Metropolis be also requested to petition for the appointment
of a Select Committee by the house of Commons to enquire
into the expenditure of the School Board for London