Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 02 April 1904

Conisboro’ School Board
Struggling to Die.
Non-fulfilment of the Last Rites.
An Extraordinary Deadlock.

“WHOSE FAULT WAS IT?”

The “death chamber” of the Conisboro’ School Board was sad to look upon, at the supposed time of the “passing away” of an authority which in its strenuous days fought stoutly and developed a liveliness altogether uncommon. On Monday night the last “roll call” was to have been sounded, but the members evidently realised acutely they were sinking from the dizzy heights of notorious educational authority to the depths of oblivion—unmourned and unsung. For a long while there were not sufficient members present to cover up the shreds of a somewhat tattered career, and it was noticeable that the light agenda took a lot of “gasping” out. During the interval of weary wait it was interesting to watch the varying expressions passing like summer clouds over the faces of those assembled round the table.

The Chairman sat with bowed head, betokening a better realisation that his high estate would shortly be wrested from him. Close by, at his right hand, the Clerk gazed wistfully at the ceiling, the blankness of which forcibly reminded him that the days of school board clerkships were almost over as far as he was concerned. Mr. Baker, as usual, was unable to keep still, and looked distinctly pleased with himself, probably due to the extraordinary victory he gained at the polling-booths on the previous Saturday, when his election to the Doncaster Rural District Council created a surprise to the public generally, but which was hailed by the Conisboro’ “Man” as a complete vindication of his attitude in the many knock-like transactions of public business.

Mr. Hirst, whose appearance during the last six months of the Board’s existence had signally determined to be as “the dead,” for he exhibited a lively spirit, he shook his countenance and the pipes of magic music that the pipe organ player might be indulged in at a later hour. Mr. Robinson, however, was somewhat dramatic; so before the evening ended, smoke gave place to fire, and a state of chaos followed.

But to tell the story in order we must ask our readers to imagine the afore-mentioned members sitting round the table twiddling their thumbs and awaiting the arrival of another colleague, so that a quorum could be formed to give up the “ghost” in a respectable and fitting way. Just as it began to look as if the “Swan death song” would remain unsung, entered Mr. Robinson, in a manner more suggestive of pleasure for the late arrival. The place he cut was certainly far from funereal, for he straightway turned to vote for the passing of the minutes, unless the vexed question of the headmaster’s increase of salary could be again discussed and a recommendation, presumably prejudicial to the resolution, could be made to the County Council. This the Chairman naturally declined to allow, seeing that he was the sole representative present of the supporters of the recently-passed increase, and as a consequence an extraordinary deadlock ensued. Eventually the meeting came to an abrupt conclusion without the minutes being signed, and with the Board—though dying—still in the land of the living.

Mr. J. Brocklesby presided, and there were present Mr. Hy. Baker, Mr. G. H. Hirst, and Mr. D. Robinson, with Mr. Frank Allen, the clerk.

MR. SELLERS’ SALARY

Mr. Robinson, after the minutes had been read, enquired whether the resolution at the previous meeting was carried or not?

The Clerk: It says distinctly in the minutes that it was not carried.

Mr. Robinson said he wanted to make it clear there were at the previous meeting three for and three against, and there it was allowed to rest. This was a very important question to the ratepayers of the town, to raise a man’s salary £65 at once.

The Chairman: You cannot discuss the question now. What we have to consider is whether the minutes are a correct record or not, and move them to be passed; you cannot discuss it.

Mr. Robinson: I can; and I shall object to the minutes.

The Chairman: It is out of order; the only question is whether they are a correct record or not.

Mr. Robinson: I admit that; but I have a right to speak. I object to those minutes.

The Chairman: You have no right to speak upon them.

Mr. Robinson: I don’t think the Board will pass this minute after it has been discussed.

Mr. Hirst: Providing the minutes are carried, it does not debar you from discussing the question afterwards.

Mr. Robinson: It does, sir.

The Chairman: The only question before us is whether it is a correct record or not. They need confirmation, and if they are incorrect they need to be corrected and then confirmed.

Mr. Hirst: That does not answer my question. Providing these minutes are passed, you will still be able to discuss the matter afterwards?

The Chairman: I don’t think you can discuss the matter afterwards.

Mr. Robinson: No, I know that; it is a well-known fact.

The Clerk said he did not think that they would be in order if they objected to the minutes. They could raise the question under the head of general business. They could not discuss it.

Mr. Robinson said if the Chairman would say they could discuss the question at vote on it afterwards, he would give way.

The Chairman: I cannot consent to that.

Mr. Robinson: I know that. I am going to oppose it, Mr. Chairman. I maintain I have a perfect right, and I oppose the minutes.

The Chairman: You have not, Mr. Robinson.

Mr. Robinson: I have, and I am going to do it.

The Chairman tried to point out to Mr. Robinson that if the minutes were correct they ought to be confirmed.

Mr. Robinson: The correctness of the minutes! I oppose them.

Mr. Baker: If you will pardon me, Mr. Robinson, I think I can see a way out of the difficulty; but I shall be as stupid as ever Mr. Robinson is respecting these minutes.

The Chairman: Don’t call Mr. Robinson “stupid.”

Mr. Baker: Pardon me, there you are; if you will give me a chance. You pull me up every time. You did not pull that man Dickinson up last meeting when he called me a nasty old liar.

The Chairman: I did protest.

Mr. Baker: You did not. You interrupted me; give me a chance. I just want to say that I think I can see a way out of the difficulty in which Mr. Robinson, I still say, is so stupid. He distinctly says he will not vote for the minutes—that he opposes them, and will object. You will see that we can recommend this matter to the County Council for them to deal with it. Then move we pass the minutes. That course is desired upon.

Mr. Robinson: The chairman will not give us that.

The Chairman: No, I cannot see my way to do that. You are asking too much from me. I hope this is not an attempt to catch a vote at the last meeting.

Mr. Robinson laughed sarcastically.

The Chairman: It looks like that, but I hope it is not. The question that we have to settle now, before we can proceed any further. This is my ruling. The question is only if the minutes are correct.

Mr. Robinson: I shall certainly oppose them, and I am prepared to go into detail on the question.

The Clerk already intimated that Mr. Sellers’ salary had been increased, and the minutes confirming such had been signed.

Mr. Baker said it all arose over the Chairman not giving his casting vote against the notice of motion. If he had acted in an independent way, as a chairman should have done, everything would have been settled.

The Chairman said he did not think it was necessary that he should give his casting vote. It was moved that a certain action be not taken and it was carried.

Mr. Robinson: It was not lost either.

The Chairman: I said then, and you cannot dispute it, that the matter stood as it stood before. It was as you were.

Mr. Baker: If you had settled the question by giving your casting vote you would have saved all this bother. So far as I am concerned, I am surprised at Mr. Robinson’s action to-night. I have offered to get you out of this difficulty, but you won’t accept it.

The Chairman: I cannot.

Mr. Hirst said if he had been present at the meeting he would have voted against the motion to increase Mr. Sellers’ salary to the extent that it was. He could only blame himself, however, for not being at the meeting the previous Monday.