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87
The proceedings at the conference were virtually unanimous, and it was
gratifying to your Committee to find that the speakers, generally, followed on
the lines laid down by the Vestry in their published statements, viz , a
determination to continue the important work of Education in the spirit of
the Elementaly Education Acts, while condemning the unnecessarily lavish
expenditure of the Board
In pursuance of the first of the resolutions passed at the Mansion House
Conference, your Committee then turned their attention to the best meant of
arousing public feeling, and directing public opinion, in the Parish of St
James A summary of the papers issued in view of the Mansion House
Conference was prepared in pamphlet form, with some additional particulars,
and a copy thereof placed in the hands of every resident ratepayer
Your Committee cannot refrain from expressing their extreme gratification at
the fact that the whole of the facts and figures issued under the authority of
the Vestry on the subject of the School Board administration and expenditure,
have withstood all criticism on the score of accuracy The compilation of
these various papers involved a comparison and digest of a multitude of official
documents, and a mass of figures, and your Committee deem it only right
to say that they are indebted to the Vestry Clerk (Mr H Wilkins) for the
assistance he afforded them in arranging the details in a clear and concise
manner
It is apparent that isolated action in one parish would have little result in
effecting any change in the constitution or policy of the Board and your Committee,
therefore, determined to invite every member of the various Rating
Authorities in Westminster, irrespective of creed or party, to attend a meeting
for the purpose of discussing what united action might he usefully taken
in view of the election then impending The St James Vestry) Hall not
being large enough for the purpose, and it appearing, moreover, that a building
in so central a position as the Town hall in Caxton-street and so suitable
in other respects, would bo most appropriate for a meeting of the members of
the Rating Authorities in the whole electoral Division of Westminster, your
Committee asked the Westminster District Board of works permit the
proposed meeting to be held in the Town Hall A ready assent was given to
this proposal, and the first meeting of members of the Rating Authorities waa
accordingly held on the 29th September, T J white, Esq , member of the
Metropolitan Board of Works, presiding At this meeting resolutions were
passed affirming the necessity of securing the return of candidates prepared to
inaugurate and to support the reforms urgently needed in the administration and
expenditure of the School Board; inviting all candidates for the westminster
Division to attend an adjourned meeting of the Conference for the purpose of
furnishing information as to the principles upon which they would proceed if
elected; appointing local committees to support approved candidates in
the various districts; and opening a subscription list to meet the necessary
expenses of carrying on the movement