View report page

11
instruments and writings prescribed by the Act from which we
derive our powers.
"We have also heard and considered an objection taken by
the School Board for London (through their solicitor) to certain
items of expenditure amounting to .£33 10s., incurred by the
Vestry in printing and posting to the rated householders in
October and November last a circular reminding the said householders
of the then approaching School Board Election, and of
the opportunity such election afforded the said rated householders
of expressing an opinion upon the excessive expenditure
of the School Board. After duly deliberating upon such objection,
we have allowed the items of expenditure in question; and
finding the whole of the accounts to be correct in every particular,
we hereby certify the same in token of our allowance thereof.
"And we give as our reasons for allowing the aforesaid items
amounting to .£33 10s.:—
"1. That such expenditure was not contrary to the provisions
of secs. 90, 91, and 92 of the Act, 18 & 19 Vict.,
cap. 120.
"2. That the Solicitor to the objectors failed to support the
claim for disallowance by any authority in law.
" 3. That inasmuch as public notice of the intended issue of
the circular was given on the 10th October (the election
took place on the 26th November), there was ample
time for the School Board to have applied to the High
Court for an injunction to restrain the Vestry from an
improper application of the parochial rates.
"4. That the expenditure was not incurred in promoting
any agitation, nor in advancing the success of any
person or party ; that it was entirely to the advantage
of the ratepayers to be reminded of the approaching
opportunity for remedying a grievance which had given
rise to repeated complaints."
A copy of this allowance was supplied to the School
Board, by whom counsel's opinion was shortly afterwards
stated to have been taken ; but nothing having been heard
of the matter for several months, the auditors addressed
the following communication to the Vestry in October:—
Town Hall, Westminster,
7th October, 1892.
Gentlemen,
As you are aware, the elected Auditors, in December last,
received a peremptory request from the School Board for
London to prevent you from expending money in connexion with
a circular which you had issued to the ratepayers on the 14th