The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-01-27 00:00:00

ROWLEY SC ti, ), „Li BOARD.

The usual monthly m.edug of this Board was
hel on Mo id-q last, in the Board Ronl, 011
llill, Mr. Gorge Green pre-idng. The other
m mbers present were Messrs. Pevitriss, S 'swoon,
ut,ve, lLLdlc aiit \Vhitiey.
After the reacli gof the minutes of the last
rm eting, Mr. Cave asked whether the Chairman
(Mr. Bas=ano) had performed any duties since he
had h-en appointed eh-Inman, and whether he in-
tended to do so.

Mr Green said that Mr. Cave knew as much
about it as he did. At the last meting Mr.
Bassano was rot present, but wa appointed ch:Air-
=An- Mr. Bassano had simply doe nothlng, and
was not again present. Mr. Green then asked if
Mr. Cave obj cted to him signing the minutes.
Mr. Cave said he objected to the appointment
of a chairman that did not do his work.

The Chairman th •n signed the minutes.
The Finance Committee report,d ;bat the cost
of the election amounted to £l.sfi 14s 101 It was
decided to pay £lOO on account, to allow the bills
to be examined.

_
The School Board officer (Mr. Hodgetts) r •ported
an improvement in the attendance, as compared
with the corresponding period last year. The
tot.d number of children on the bodes was 3,259
with an average attendance of 2,547, and a per-
ctntage cf 77. At the corresponding period of
last year the number on the boo:cs was 2,180, with
at average attendance of 2,198, and a p,rcentage
of 78. The low percentage at Tividale-63 as
against an average of 80 for the other scho.)ts—
was entirely owing to the prevelenee of smallpox
in the district In addition to the childr.m not at
tending wh ) have it in th ir hnises, a number of
parent srt fused to send their children io scle,ol iii
coniequence of the epidemic.
Letters were real from Allis Hollo‘l ay and Miss
Payton (C adley Heath), applying for an increase
cf smary. The Board decided not to increase
their salaries at the present time.
A letter was read Cr rn Mn W. Bassano (Chair-
man of the Board) giving notice of his iiveulion to
resign his.seat upon the Board.
I Mr Whitley peuposed that the resignation be
received with regret.
Mr Pewtriss seconded the resolution.

Mr, Hadley said he r- gretted that Mr. B issa,no
had resigned, but they must look at the grounds
upon which he had sent in his r. signation Ile
could not vote for the ri-soludon Mr. Bassano
had been elected by the ratepayers and yet he re-
fused to sit bocausu an-ther gentlem in had been
el,cred. He admitted that Mr. Bassano had done
his duty as a member of ti,e Board during the
nine years he had been a member, but he was un-
able to understand what matters would come ti if
members of the Board were to be governed by
such views as Mr. Bassano. If Mr. 'Bassano re-
fused to sit on that Board, hi a ,:onduct was most
urigeulemarily and unreasonable.
_ _

Mr. Cave said that he concurred in the remarks
of Mr. Ha :ley. He was not aware that he had
insulted Mr. Bassano in any way. He had as
much rght to a seat on the Board as any one. He
talen a great deal of interest in the doilies of
that Board, and als • anothr Bord, The law
had given him those priv,ligcs an he for one had
takea them up, an lif Mr. Bassano was insulted,
he was no hero. In hs opinion things ha,4 b en
carii ii in in a most disgraceful an illegal way.
Th ra were many things th tt requred looking in-
in ihat parish, and now that Mr, Bassani-) had
thcti;ht fit to resign ha seat on the School Boa, d,
it .outd he a glorious thing tor the palish if h•
w ul,' resi.:n tha chairmw.ship of the Local Board
—there would be many hundreds of pounds saved.
Some rather porsenal remarks then pass,d
between Mr. Green Mr. Hadl y and Mr. Cave,
a:ter which the resolution was carried
On the moti•m of the Chairman it was decided
thit th fees of all children of tb.: infants depart-
ment and the first standard be reduced for the
fwure to Id per week.
Mr Hadiey gave notice that at the next meet-
ing he would m.ve "That in case tour or more
children from any one tamily attend the Board
Sahools, the school fees paid shall not exceed 21.
pr Lhild per week.