Mexborough and Swinton Times – Saturday 07 May 1904
Conisboro’ District Education Sub-Committee
First Meeting
Election of Chairman
Complimentary Speeches
The County Council’s Action
The first meeting of the Educational Sub-committee for the Conisboro’ district was held on Monday evening, in the Station Road Schools. There were present Mr. W. R. Hudson, divisional clerk; Mr. J. Brocklesby, Mr. C. D. Nicholson, C.C., Mr. W. W. Norwood, Mr. W. J. Ward, and Mr. W. Wilson.
The Divisional Clerk raised the question as to whether or not the Press would be allowed to attend their meetings.
Mr. Nicholson said the public would soon want to know the reason if they did not, and he did not know that they were going to do anything they did not want the public to know. (Hear, hear.)
It was decided unanimously to allow the Press to attend their meetings. The Divisional Clerk intimated that the next business would be the appointment of chairman.
Mr. Nicholson thought that it would be best left in the hands of the Committee themselves to deal with. They wanted a man upon whom they could rely, and who was on the spot. A great deal of misapprehension had been caused, and enquiries made as to why certain persons had been left off the committees after their names had been sent up. A transitional committee had been appointed by the County Council to make these appointments, but they would not give them any information as to why certain persons had been left off. They could not be got to open their mouths on the subject, and he thought they ought to be furnished with these particulars. The Act specified that the representatives who were not on that committee should be approached with regard to the qualifications of certain gentlemen, whose names had been recommended, but he failed to find one instance where a representative had been approached with reference to making any suggestions whatever. He himself had never been asked to make any suggestions whatever, although he had handed in certain names which should have received, in certain cases, some consideration. Afterwards, he found that one man had been left out altogether, never having been taken into consideration. He was a most likely man too, having been the clerk of a neighbouring School Board. He saw after the lists had been published that his name had not been taken into consideration. So far as giving information upon that point he was unable to do so, but Mr. Watson, who was a member of the transitional committee, if he had been present, would have been perhaps able to give them some particulars, he was in the “know.”
Mr. Brocklesby said the information would have been very acceptable.
Mr. Hudson remarked that Mr. Watson was unable to attend that evening.
Mr. Wilson said he had been hoping to nominate Mr. Nicholson as Chairman, he thought he would add to the honour and dignity of the committee.
Mr. Nicholson did not think it was at all practicable. They would do better if they elected a Chairman from their own centre. In fact he was not sufficiently conversant with the working of provided schools to undertake such an onerous position. All his experience had been gained in non-provided schools.
Mr. Wilson said he would nominate a gentleman whom they all knew. He had had a great deal of experience in educational matters, he had been chairman of the late School Board, and he had ruled it, in the opinion of most of them, in a very impartial manner, and in a very able way. He proposed Mr. Brocklesby as chairman.
Mr. Ward said in view of the fact that Mr. Brocklesby had had considerable experience in School Board work he would second the proposition.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Mr. Brocklesby, taking the chair and responding, thanked them for electing him to that position. What experience he had gained would be placed at the disposal of the committee, he would try and render that authority all the help he could, and he hoped all their meetings would be of a very pleasant character. He believed all the members of the committee were deeply interested in the duties and work that had been assigned to them, and he hoped that they would be able to carry out those duties with efficiency and credit to themselves. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Nicholson was very pleased Mr. Brocklesby had been elected to that position. He had no doubt but what he would carry out the duties in the spirit of the Act. No doubt many of them did not like it, but they were all, he trusted, law-abiding citizens. (Laughter.) He thought they had been very fortunate in gaining the services of Mr. Hudson as the Divisional Clerk. He did not know of anyone in that part of the district who was so well able to occupy that position. He congratulated Mr. Hudson upon being placed in that position, because he felt confident he would be a good servant to the authority under which he served. They were most fortunate in having a man like Mr. Hudson, and they could not get away from the fact that if the Act was to be worked properly, a lot of its success depended upon what sort of a Divisional Clerk they had got. The powers of a Divisional Clerk were almost unique. It had been said that the committee would have nothing to do; of course, all matters financial went through the fingers of the Clerk, and he was responsible to the Central Authority. It was with the Clerk that the financial department would rest, but of course there were other details the Committee would have to look after, and they would certainly have the prerogative of seeing how the money was spent, although he did not think they had any power to say whether it would be much or little, that rested entirely with the Educational Committee at Wakefield. He thought everything would go on smoothly and well, so far as this district was concerned. In conclusion, Mr. Nicholson, addressing Mr. Hudson, said, “I congratulate you, sir, upon having been placed in the position of Divisional Clerk to this district. There is no doubt that, so far as education is concerned here, everything will be done that is possible to make it successful.” (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Hudson, in reply, said he was extremely obliged to Mr. Nicholson for the very kind remarks, and also to the Chairman for the very ready way in which he had given him information prior to the formation of the Committee. He hoped to add many years of useful service with them. (Hear, hear.) Throughout the whole of the district he had been received with the greatest kindness, both by the managers of the non-provided and provided schools, and the teachers and all other parties. He had no doubt but what they would all work well together. He thought they must all feel obliged and honoured by the presence of Mr. Nicholson, who had to come such a long way in order to attend their meetings.
Mr. Norwood asked if the Clerk could elucidate the mystery as to why certain gentlemen who had been recommended to the County Council for appointment had not been elected. The School Board had recommended the Vicar of Conisboro’ and the Chairman, Mr. Brocklesby, and he believed it was practically understood they were elected; in fact it was given out that it was so, and the Vicar had even gone to the trouble to obtain information. The Parish Council had been asked to suggest names, and Mr. Ward and Mr. Booth were recommended. Mr. Ward had been elected, and Mr. Booth left outside. The Chairman said that was a matter that had greatly exercised the minds of the people of Conisboro’ during the last few days, more especially with regard to the Vicar. He had received a letter from him, which he thought would be better if handed to the Press. It seemed to him that it was a matter they could not deal with; they could not influence the County Council at all, and as they had heard from Mr. Nicholson, even the members of the City Council, who constituted this committee, were not inclined to give the reasons as to why certain gentlemen had been left off.
From what Mr. Nicholson had said there was a strong feeling on the Council with regard to the appointment of certain gentlemen. Perhaps they had reason for not appointing the Vicar, or perhaps they had not. He might say for the satisfaction of Mr. Norwood and Mr. Booth that the Council were asked to send one or two names. They sent three, and the Council would probably appoint the first name on the list.
Mr. Norwood asked if any favour was shown.
The Chairman said there was none at all; the names were submitted in the way the nominations were handed in. He thought an opinion had been formed by certain people in the village that an intimation had been sent to the County Council as to who should be appointed, and that it had been the work of a certain “clique.”
Mr. Norwood: It looks very much like it.
The Chairman said Mr. Norwood had evidently heard about it. Continuing, he said he was not aware of anything of the kind having been done, either on the part of himself or anyone on the Parish Council.
Mr. Nicholson said he could not give them any information; he ought to be in a position to do so, but he was not able. It was not satisfactory.
The Chairman said it was very unsatisfactory, especially to the Vicar. It had been assumed by everyone that he was on the committee. He thought his letter had better be handed to the reporter.
Mr. Norwood said he had certainly been misrepresented, and he thought he felt it very much.
The Chairman said he did; everyone assumed he had been elected. He had been congratulated in various quarters, but at the last moment he had discovered he was not on. He had his sympathy in the matter.
Mr. Wilson suggested that as another appointment had to be made by the County Council, that they be requested to appoint the Vicar.
It was decided after further discussion to write the County Council stating there was a strong feeling existing on the part of the Education Committee that the Vicar of Conisboro’ should be appointed. It was decided to withhold all correspondence on the subject from the Press at present.
It was also decided that the meetings be held in future in the new schools.