View report page

138
not "a public concern," to the remedying of which the Vestry, as the
rating authority, have a full legal right to call the attention of the
ratepayers. The object of the circular is so transparent on the face of
it. that it is difficult to understand how any unbiassed person could
'interpret it otherwise than as a reminder to the ratepayers that the
then coming election would afford them an opportunity of improving
that of which they had so frequently complained—the inexcusably
excessive rate necessary for School Board purposes.
It is a matter of surprise to us that so important a body as the
School Board for London should have acted with so much precipitancy
and with so little apparent appreciation of the provisions of the
/
Metropolis Management Acts as their letter discloses; and we fear
that it is but an additional proof that resolutions of the Board are
too often passed hastily and without due consideration.
You will not, therefore, expect us to take any steps to prevent an
expenditure of which we, as the duly elected representatives of the
ratepayers, entirely approve.
The Vestry have throughout maintained the position that
the work of popular education is so important to the
•community that the Board entrusted with the work should
vigilantly watch the expenditure of every penny they
raise. It is a desire to strengthen the work of education
which has led the Vestry to adopt the action they have.
They are of opinion that the work might be done as well,
or better, at a cost of £400,000 a year less than at present,
and it is not education but extravagance and maladministration
against which their efforts have been
•directed.
We are, Sir,
Your obedient Servants,
(Signed) Robert E. H. Goffin, Chairman.
R. Morgan,
T. Bull,
Thos. Hy. Hobbs,
Chas. T. Cowley,
The Auditors
elected under the
Metropolis Local
Management Acts,