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is largely in excess of the expenditure for that purpose in Birmingham,
Bradford, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, and other large
towns; whilst, on the other hand, the fees received are very much lower;
and they have reason to believe that in many instances not only is an
excessive price paid for sites for schools in London, hut a considerable
loss is incurred in acquiring and allowing them to remain unutilised.
"Your Memorialists have also reason to believe that the salaries paid
to teachers are very much higher than in the towns referred to; that
unnecessarily large sums are expended in the fitting up and maintenance
of training ships; in the system of remunerating by fees the Solicitor
and Architects employed; in the erection and fitting up of public
offices, and in many other matters.
"Your Memorialists submit that the imposition of a rate so heavy as
that which is now required to meet the demands of the School Board
will be a grievous and oppressive burden to the ratepayers of the
Metropolis, and they fear that the maximum has not yet been reached.
"Your Memorialists therefore are of opinion that the time has
arrived when a full and searching inquiry should be made into the policy
and expenditure of the School Board for London, in the interests of the
metropolitan ratepayers generally, and
"Your Memorialists humbly pray that Her Majesty's Government
will be pleased to direct a Commission of Inquiry to be instituted
accordingly, and your Memorialists will ever pray, &c."
L. S.
The Memorial has been referred to the Vice-President of the
Council for Education, Mr. Mundella.
The constantly increasing demands of the School Board for
London, and of the Metropolitan Board of Works, are exemplified
in the following tabulated statement, which was printed and
circulated throughout the district by order of this Board in April
last.
During the ten years 1876-85 the Board has had to raise
and pay away, in compliance with orders from the authorities
named, and without exercising any control whatever over the
expenditure of the School Board, no less a sum than £136,975, viz.