View report page

18
that the circular in question was agreed upon on 24th September,
before any Candidate had publicly announced himself, and more
than six weeks before it could definitely have been known whether
or not a contest would take place. Every member of the Vestry
had a copy of the circular sent to him on 10th October, and it
was unanimously agreed to on 14th idem, at a thoroughly representative
meeting of the Vestry, in public, at which fifty-five
members were present.
Your letter implies either a want of knowledge of the Metropolis
Local Management Acts, or that a School Rate of a Shilling
in the £ is 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.
We are, Sir,
Your obedient Servants,
(Signed) ROBERT E. II. GOFFIN, Chairman, *
( „ ) R. MORGAN,
( „ ) T. BULL,
( „ ) THOMAS HENRY HOBBS,
( ,, ) C. T. COWLEY,
The Auditor/
elected, under
the Metropolii
Local Management
Acti.
The Yestry accorded the elected auditors their best
thanks for their public-spirited and prompt conduct in
the matter.