The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-03-04 00:00:00

GREAT TOWN'S MEETING.

THE SCHOOL BOARD REJECTED.

The adjourned meeting, to take into conside-
ration the desirability of having a School Board
for Stourbridge, was held in the Corn Exchange
on Monday evening last. The room was crowded
to excess, including the clergy, dissenting min-
isters, and tradesmen, and a large number of
the working classes were present; Captain
Walker again occupying the chair.
The Chairman, in opening the proceedings,
said it devolved upon him to take the chair at
the present meeting, it having been adjourned
from last week, and be would at once call upon
Mr. Holloway to read the notice calling the ad-
journed meeting.
Mr. Holloway then read the notice calling the
meeting:.

The Chairman said no doubt they were all
aware that that meeting was called for the pur-
pose of passing or registering a resolution as to
the desirability of having a School Board or
not, and that it was for the ratepayers of Stour-
bridge alone to decide that question. He had
no doubt there were many present who were not
ratepayers. He would not ask them to leave the
room, but would ask them not to take any part
in the proceedings, either by voice or gesture.
He was desirous that every one should have a
fair field to express their opinions. He would
inform those who were present on the last occa.
@ion, that a resolution was proposed by the Rev.
H. Sherrard, and seconded by the Rev. D. Ma-
ginnis, " That it is expedient that a School
Board should be formed for the parish of Stout.
bridge, in the county of Worcester, under the
provisions of the Elementary Education Act,
1870.- But, before proceeding, lie ought to tell
them that it had been represented to him, as
Chairman of the Commissioners, that he ought
to do something towards arriving at a pacific so-
lution of the question by conferring with the
clergy and ministers of the town ; which, they
were aware, he had done. Prior to that he did
not like to take action in the matter, and had
held aloof ; not because he felt less strongly on
the matter, but because his time was so fully
occupied. So far as he himself was concerned,
however, he should like to see every child in the
parish have a liberal education—(cheers). Ac-
cording to the rules of debate, Mr. Scott,having
moved the adjourtnnent of the meeting, he
should first call upon that gentleman to speak.
Mr. Prescott, rising, said he should like to
ask the Chairman one question. Was not this
a ratepayers' meeting, and for ratepayers alone?
If so, there were a iiinule•r of gentlemen pre-
sent who were not ratepayers for the township.
There was a reverend gentleman then present
who was present on the previous occasion, and
there were many others present who were not
ratepayers, and he wished to call the Chairman's
attention to the fact that any person who was
not a ratepayer was not entitled to be present at
that meeting. The Act of Parliament said that
ratepayers only should lie present. He submit-
ted that it persons who were not ratepayers were
allowed to remain in the room and take part in
the proceedings, it might make the meeting null
and void— (applause and cheers).
The same objection was taken at Atublecote
and Oldsuvinford. If any persons were present
who were not ratepayers they were asked to leave
the room, and they left ; and he should ask the
Chairman to request those gentlemen who were
not ratepayers to leave the room.
Mr. Allsop here rose, but
Mr. Prescott said : Pardon me; lam addres-
sing the Chairman.
The Chairman here read the notice calling the
meeting, when

Mr. Prescott said he had the Act of Parlia-
ment in his hand, and submitted that no person
had any right to take part in the proceedings
unless lie was a ratepayer—(cheers and applause)
—and he must ask those gentlemen to retire
who were not ratepayers—(hear, hear). He did
not wish to say so disrespectfully—(cheers).
The Chairman remarked that he was asked by
Mr. Prescott to turn those persons out who were
not ratepayers, but he thought it would be very
difficult to ascertain who were ratepayers in the
room. Ile should rule that the meeting might
go on in the presence of non-ratepayers, and lie
trusted that the non.ratepayers would conduct
themselves in a straightforward and honest
manner, by not taking part in the proceedings
—applause). _
• . .

-il. C. A. Scott, J.P., then said he should not have
addressed them at so early a stage of the meeting, but
for the fact that he was the mover of the adjournment
of the previous meeting. Ile believed the adjournment
was thoroughly justified upon two distinct grounds—first,
that at the previous re, eting there was not a sufficient
number of ratepayers present to give the requisite
validity to the resolution that was proposed, which war
borne out by the respectable and numerous attendance
at that meeting. The second ground was that the ques.
tion was a very important one, because had the resolution
been carried out it would have subjected this parish to
the operation of a School Board, and they would be
bound to it loran indefinite period, and would not have
the power to do away with it if they at any time should
think they had acted wrongly in the matter. But they
were assembled to discus the resolution moved by the
Rev. H. Sherrard, and seconded by the Rev. D. Magin-
nis. He had no need to remind them that in rural dis-
tricts the clergy appeared disposed to stand aloof from
this matter, and had not come forward to support this
Act, and no establish School Boards; therefore there
was seine honour due to Mr. Sherrard for coming forward
in favour of the public welfare ; also to the seconder of
the resolution. the Rev. H. Maginnia, who, he may say,
may be looked upon as one of the leading Nonconfor-
mists. It showed that the allergy and dissenting minis.
tees were working in harmony together, and he would
take this opportunity to thank them for bringing the
matter forward a, they had done, and he hoped it would
not be the last tithe they should find the clergy and dis-
senting ministers working together in harmony—(ap-
plause). tdr. %laginnis had rendered good service in
laying before thew the statistics he had, and those facts
ought to form the basis on which to argue and determine
their action in the matter. He (Mr. Scott) was not one
of those who entertained strong feeling either on one
side or the other: but he thought they ought to be very
ea, eful before they determined to form a School Board
—(hear, hear). The Education Act contemplates two
distract cases: 1, a district in which the school accom-
modation was found deficient; and 2, where the school
accommodation was not deficient. Be considered that