Mexborough and Swinton Times – Saturday 05 March 1904
Conisborough Notes
Conisboro’ School Board
For a dying body, our local School Board exhibits surprising and sustained animation; and on Monday the proceedings were as lively as usual.
Evidently an enjoyable evening was anticipated, for one member travelled from Mansfield, and another from Doncaster, to take part in the proceedings. The former has been a stranger to the Board’s business for about six months. A reference to the report will show that the application of the master of the Station Road Mixed School for an increase of salary was the matter over which disagreement took place.
There is no doubt whatever that among the general public there is a feeling that the way this appointment was made was not satisfactory. The advertisement offered so very meagre a salary that scores of good men in the vicinity refrained from making application, and it is an open secret that the Board’s choice was very restricted.
There is no reflection in this comment on the qualifications on the gentleman who received the appointment. He might have been the fortunate one had the salary in the first instance offered been commensurate with the duties required.
The point I wish to make clear is this: that the general public do not think it either just or politic to advertise a responsible position at a salary which is of necessity calculated to shut out scores of men, and then having to make a selection from the very restricted number of applicants, to increase the salary of that person by leaps and bounds.
Twelve months, or may be a little more ago, an advance of £25 was given, and I am informed that on Monday another increase of £35 was voted.
Mr. Baker and Mr. Robinson, who opposed, are neither of them divorced or niggardly salaries being paid, of that there can be no doubt.
The position is a peculiar one, and during the week has been the chief topic of conversation in Conisboro’.