The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-07-19 00:00:00

STOURBRIDGE SCHOOL BOARD.

The first meeting of the School Board in this
town was held at the Commassionere. Boom, in the
Corn Exchange. on Thursday morning. There
were present Messrs. J. MeEwen, J. Walker, E.
Sti inger, H. Billingham, T. Wall, and OW. Pres-
co.L. Mr. Holloway, the returr Mg officer, also at-
tended.

On the motion of Mr. McEwen, seconded by Mr.
Stringer, Mr. Holloway was elected chairman pro
tem.

Mr. Holloway then read the various sections of
the Education Act under which the Board had
been elected, and explained the duties devolving
upon the members ..t their first meeting. He re-
ported the election of the Board to the Education
Department, as desired by the Act, and had re-
ceived a reply asking the returning officer to
favour the department with the names of the
chairman and viec.clutirmau when elected, and
the place chosen for holding their meetings in the
future. He said the Act did not state either the
time at which the first meeting should be held, or
the place; and he, having obtained the consent of
the Commissioners for the use of the room on that
occasion, iiad called the meeting et that time as
he thought it would be most suitable for all parties.
Of course, it would be for them to appoint both
time and place for their next meeting. The busi-
ness of the present meeting was to elect a chaii.
man and vice-chairman, to act for time ensuing
three years.
Mr. Prescott asked what was the date of the
letter, which Mr. Holloway had rend?
Mr. Holloway: The 4th of July.
Mr. Walker then rose and said he had to pro-
pose a gentleman as chairman of the Board for
the next three yea's. He had to propose a gentle-
man who, from his business capacities and general
knowledge of matters, was, he believed, well quali-
fied for the office, and would if elected perform
the duties of the office in a spirit of strict imparti-
ality. He proposed Mr. J. MeEwen as chairman
of the Board for the next three years.
Mr. Stringer seconded the proposition, and in
doing so said he most cordially endorsed the re-
marks made by Captain Walker relative to the
qualificatiyn of Mr. McEwen for the position of
chairman. From what they had seen of that
gentleman at the Board of Commissioners, it quite
justified them in entrusting him with that honour.
Mr. Prescott said he had an amendment to move,
and before he moved it he thought it best to make
some enquiries from the four gentlemen opposite
as to whether on Wednesday evening they met
together and then selected the gentleman who was
now presented to them as chairman of that Board.
He thought he was entitled to know that, and the
electors were also entitled to an. answer to Om
question, because when he found that a certain
person connected with the Church had goneabout
making his boast that those gentlemen had met
together to select their chairman to say the least
it was anything but creditable on their part. This
was not the first hole-and-corner meeting that had
been held in connection with the election of the
School Board.
Mr. Holloway : Confine yourself to the pies-
tion.
Mr. Prescott I shall not be put down. That
is the question, and I have a right to comment
upm such conduct.
' Mr. Holloway I must protest.
: Mr. Prescott: You may protest fifty times if
, you like, it will not affect me; lam determined to
say what I think, and I will not be put down.
; At this point Mr. Scott entered the room, and
. Mr. Prescott having said that he was sorry that
he TM not present at the commencement of the