The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-09-04 00:00:00

SCH.OtTh ACCOMMOD..k rioN AT

HALESOWEN.

A numerously-att(nded meeting of ratepayers
was held in the National Schoolroom, Halesowen,
on Tuesday evening, for tne purpose of considering
by what means extra school accommodation can be
provided for the parish. Mr. E. Gem presided, and
read the notice convening the meeting, which set
forth that at a preliminary meeting it was resolved
that the Overseers be requested to call a parish
meeting, for the purpose of approving the levying of .
a one shilling rate for the purpose of providing
additional school acconnuodation. The Chairman
also explained that the Overseers and Guardians of
each township adjoining the borough of llalesowen
were dtl,ired to call meetings in their respective
townships to take the opinion of the ratepayers on the
subject. The returns of the rateable value received
from the various townships shcw,d that the total
rateable property was about £26,0)0 A one shil-
ling rate levied upon that would provide sufficient
for their purpose at present, It was estimated that
they should want £1,500. for the enlargement of
the National schools, and it was also stated at the
last meeting that a similar amount would be re-
quired by the trustees of the British schools. But
they now calculated that A 1,500 would be sufficient
to provide the deficiency of room for the children,
whether in the National or British schools. It was
. clear it was not necessary to spend £3,000 for that
purpose. Still they were desirous that the British
schools should be enlarged, and that the necessary
accommodation should be provided there. (Hear,
hear.) He thought there could be nothing better
than a voluntary rate and ,there would bean end to it
in a year or two: whereas if they formed a School
Board it would be a perpetual rate upon the pro-
perty in the parish. The Chairman then called
upon the representatives of the various parishes to
give the resul,s of meetings.
Mr. G Melly, on behalf of Halesowen township,
said he Should like to see the voluntary rate
adopted, in preference to the heavy expenses of a
School Board,

Mr. E. B. Phillips rose to a point of order. He
said Mr. Melly was giving merely his individual
opinion upon the question. It was understood that
the Overseers should call t meeting to c.nisider the
matter, and that Mr. Melly should give to the meet,
ing a report from the parish meeting.
Mr. Melly said that the opinion of the ratepayers
of Halesowen had not been taken.
Mr. Goodman said it was understoud that the
meeting that night would answer for both pur-
poses.

- Mr. Melly thought they should be doing wrong if
they did not agree to the voluntary rate.
Mr. Phillips: That is your opinion.
Mr. Colbourn, secretary to the National School
Cornmitte, said they only asked for just sufficient to
build the schools and furnish them, and pay for the
ground. As regarded the feeling of the parish. he
believed it was unanimous that the best thing to do
was to have a voluntary rate.
Mr. Coley reported that the parish meeting held
at Hasbury objected to the levying of a shilling
voluntary rate, on the ground of the difficulty in
collecting it. They thought the money could be
more easily raised by a parith voluntary subscrip-
tion. (Hear. hear.) It was pointed out that it was
desirable to provide more school accommodation at
Hasbury, or else the children and parents in that
district would be plao,ed at a great disadvantage.
Mr. Downing, on behalf of the ratepayers, of Hill
said they were unanimously in favour of the vo'!un-
tary rate. The Lappal ratepayers also wereagree-
ablere-
able for the rate to be expended in providing school
accommodation in the various townships by a re-
presentative committee of the ratepayers. The
Hawne ratepayers were said to be in favour oi the
voluntary rate. -
Mr. Trewolla moved, "That the several townships
be asked to charge themselvi,s with a rate of one
shilling in the pound, charging land only one-half
the amount, and pay the same into Mssrs. Lloyd's
bank to the credit of Mr. Gem, as ch.iman, who is
hereby authorised to pay the overdraft at Lloyd,
Bank, in part payment of land purehas d of Mr.
Siviter, and to assist the British schools to meet
their present necessities, and the balance to remain
at the bank for the future decision of the several
townships." The rata would not make more than
.2600,0 r 1700. If they paid the £3OO overdraft for
the land, the property would then belong to the
parish for educational purposes,
Mr. Phillips: You will want more than a is rate.
The Rev. A. Moon asked what Mr. Trewolla pro-
posed with regard to the future management ot the
property. -

tevvolla said as soon as the oyerdraft was
paid off the property would be handed over to the
ratepayers for their management.
The Rev. A. Moon contended that the question
of management was an important matter, and
should be settled first.

Mr. Colbourn said it would be time enough to dis-
cuss the question of management when the pro-
perty was handed over.
The Rev. Mr. Smith moved that in the event of
the is voluntary rate being levied the British
schools should take ono.lvilf.
Mr. Phillips propued another amendrneut to the
effect that the several townships sboull be can-
vassed on the question of the voluntary late.
Upon being put Mr. Phillips's amendment was
lest. _ _

The amendment moved by Mr. Smith was then
carried by a large majority.
The Church party then refused to take any part
in the matter, and the Chairman declared the meet-
ing ended amidst considerable confusion.