The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-06-02 00:00:00

ROWLEY SCHOOL BOARD.

Mr. George Green presided on Monday afternoon
at the monthly meeting of the Rowley Regis School
Board. •

The Attendance Officer (Mr. Hodgetts) reported
that during the month thee had been an increase
in .the attendttice at the different schools. The
numbers on the books were 3,580, average attend-
ance 3,009, the percentage of attendance being 84.6.
The i 'crease on the books was 92, with the aver-
age attend ir ce 145, and the ircrease in the percent-
age of attendance w.ts 2.1, as compared with the
corresp mding nth ot last year there was an in-
crease of 565 on the book-t, and of 579 in the aver-
age attendance.
The Finance Committee recommended the pay-
merit of ace mats atnoanting to £lB9 is Bd.
Mr. Edwards moved, and Mr. Pewtriss snonded
the adoption of the rep( rt
Mr. Cave said he noticed in the report a charge
of £2 2s by the Cleik as solicitor to the Board for
work done by him in procuring a loan for the Board.
He considered that the whole of the work done by
the Clerk should be included in his salary. -

The Chairman: If you want that you will have
to make an alteration in the agreement.
Mr. Cave: I object to the payment of 19s for
the printing of fifty balance-sheets. There was no
order given for the work to be done.
The Clerk: lam bound to issue a balance sheet
in order to comply with the orders of the Educa—
tion Department.
Mr. Cave: I say the Education Department give
no such orders.

The Chairman: That is tantamount to calling
the Clerk a Ii

Ihe Chairman afterwards proceeded to put the
notion to the meeting, wlien Mr. Hadley said he
hoped the Chairman would not be so precipitate, as
by acting in such a manner he might cause some
unpleasantness.
The Chairman: I am desirous of acting fairly to—
wards each member of this Board, but when Mr.
Cave was calling the Clerk ineffect aliir,l thought
it advbuble to stop the discussion
Mr. Cave: And I still say the Clerk was not justi-
fied in having the accounts printed. Will you allow
me to read the law on the questions.
The Chairman: No, Sir; the Clerk is the person
at this Board to read the law.

The Clerk salt' the Education Department gay,
distinct orders that the School Beard should issue
a balsnce-sheet.

Mr. Cave: Yes; the School B ard shall give
orders, and I say we have not as a Board given
orders for the balance-sheets to be printed.
The Ckrk :I am bound to supvdy the Overseers
aud others with copies of the balance-sheets within
tilirty days of the accouas being examined by the
audi or.

.The Chairman: It seems to me that Mr. Coe is
determined to give 119 all the worry and bother he
possibly can.
Mr. Cave: I don't want to worry you, but I
d in% beli.:ve in a useless expenditure of money.
The whole of the accounts, except one for print-
ing were ordered to be paid.
Mr. Hadley said he bad given notice to move a
resolution to rescind the resolutions passed at the
previou, meting than the number of members to
form a quorum be altered from three to four, Ile,
howewr did not think it advisabie to proceed with
his motion, for by so doing it would pr ,bably calse
an amount of irrilation similar to that experienced
at previous meetings. and as he was desirous that
the legitimate business of the Board should be pro-
ceded with he would not proceed with his motion—
(hear, hear).
Mr. Cave said he wished to state that he did not
hire the only cab, as was alleged at the last meet-
ing, in order to cause some of the members to be
late at the meeting,. Mr. Cave afterwards proceeded
to charge some of the memberA of entering into a
conspiracy, upon which Mr. Pewtriss said that Mr.
-Cave's remarks were irrelevant.
Mr. Cave said there were certain members who
did not like to be told of their nasty dirty tricks
and if ever there was a cirty trick perpetrated it
wa wh..n dight members met in that room to make
a Board in default. It was not manly for the Clerk
to be there wi.h his pen in. hand to put down
anything which mieht be said.

The C airman afterwards sl op-pod the discussion.
A letter was received from Mr. William Hodgetts,
the school attendance officer, resigning hi-, position,
and it was resolved to advertise for a successor at a
ealary of £BO per annum.