The Elementary Education Acts, 1870, 1873, 1874 & 1876

wark, City of London, Chelsea, and Greenwich. In the City of London the members of the school board are to be elected by the same persons as common councilmen are elected, and in other divisions of the metropolis by the ratepayers (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 37; 36 & 37 Vict., c. 86, Sched. 2). At an election of a school board for a borough or parish every voter is to be entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of members to be elected for the district. In the metropolis the number of votes is to be equal to the number of members to be elected for the division for which the ratepayer is a voter. The votes may be given to one candidate, or may be distributed amongst the several candidates (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, secs. 29, 37).

The elections of school boards are to held at such time, and in such manner, and in accordance with such regulations as the Education Department may prescribe.' The Education Department may appoint, or direct the appointment, and make regulations as to the duties, remuneration, and expenses of any officers requisite for the purpose of the elections, and do all other necessary things preliminary or incidental to the elections. The nominations of candidates are to be in writing, and a poll, so far as circumstances admit, is to be conducted in like manner as a poll at a contested municipal election under the Ballot Act, 1872 (36 & 37 Vict., c. 86, Sched. 2).

The Education Department are to fix a day for the triennial retirement of the members of the school board, except in the case of the School Board for London. The first members are to retire from office on the day fixed for retirement next after the expiration of three years from the day fixed for the first election, and members chosen in the place of retiring members are to come into office on the day for retirement, and are to hold office for three years only (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, Sched. 2).

As regards the metropolis, the elections of the members of the school board are to take place in the month of November

1 The regulations which have been issued by the Education Department with reference to the election of school boards are set forth in the Appendix, pp. 330-339, 348-359.

every third year, on the day from time to time appointed by the schood board. The first of December is fixed as the day for the retirement of members (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 37, Sched. 2, third part).

The School Board for London are empowered to elect a chairman, either from the members of the board or not. If the chairman is not an elected member of the board he is to be an ex-officio member. He may be paid such salary as the board, with the sanction of the Education Department, may fix (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, secs. 37, 38).

A member of a school board who absents himself during six successive months from all meetings of the board, except from temporary illness or other cause to be approved by the board, or is punished with imprisonment for any crime, or is adjudged bankrupt, or enters into a composition or arrangement with his creditors, is to be deemed to vacate his office. A member of a school board, or manager appointed by the board, who holds or accepts any place of profit, the appointment to which is vested in the school board or managers appointed by them, or in any way shares or is concerned in the profits of any bargain or contract with, or any work done under the authority of the school board or managers, on conviction, not only renders his office vacant, but is liable to a penalty not exceeding 50l. This provision does not, however, extend to any sale of land or loan of money to a school board, or any bargain or contract made with or work done by a company in which the member holds shares, or the insertion of any advertisement in any newspaper in which he has a share, if he does not vote with respect to the matter (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 34 and Sched. 2).

If any question arises as to the right of any person to act as a member of a school board, the Education Department may, after inquiry, determine the question; and the order made by them in the matter, unless removed by certiorari during the term next after the making of the order, will be final. The election of a member cannot be questioned except within six months after the declaration of the elec tion (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 33; 36 & 37 Vict., c. 86, sec. 9).

Provision is made for failure to elect members and filling up vacancies.

When a casual vacancy in the office of a member of a school board occurs by death, resignation, disqualification, or otherwise, the vacancy may be filled up by the remaining members of the board, if a quorum, at a special meeting of the board called for the purpose (39 & 40 Vict., c. 79, sec. 44 and Sched. 3).

The school board of the district are to be a body corporate, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire and hold land (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 30).

Officers of School Boards.

The school board may appoint a clerk, a treasurer, teachers, and other necessary officers. The officers are to hold office during the pleasure of the board, and are to perform such duties and receive such salaries as the board may assign to them. Two or more school boards may arrange to employ the same officer.

The school board may also appoint an officer to enforce bye-laws as to attendance of children at school, and to take the proceedings necessary for obtaining orders for the sending of children to certified industrial schools (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, secs. 35, 36; 39 & 40 Vict., c. 79, sec. 28).

Offices of School Boards.

When the school board satisfy the Education Department that, having regard to the large population of the district of the board, it is necessary or proper that an office should be provided for the board, the Education Department may authorise the school board to provide an office accordingly (39 & 40 Vict., c. 79, sec. 42).

Proceedings of School Boards.

Regulations are prescribed with regard to the meetings of the school board and the transaction and management of the

business of the board. Subject to the provisions in those regulations, the school board may from time to time make such further regulations on the subject as they may deem necessary (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, Sched. 3; 36 & 37 Vict., c. 86, Sched. 3).

Proceedings of a school board are not to be questioned on account of vacancies in the board; and no disqualification or defect in the election of persons acting as members is to vitiate proceedings when the majority of members, parties to them, were entitled to act. Minutes of the proceedings of the board, signed by the chairman, are to be receivable in evidence in all legal proceedings without further proof (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 30).

Provision of Schools by School Boards.

On the formation of the School Board the Education Department are to send to the board a requisition requiring them to take proceedings forth with for supplying the school accommodation which is considered necessary for the district, and on the receipt of the requisition the school board are forthwith to comply with its requirements, and take the necessary steps for providing the school accommodation specified by the Education Department (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 10).

The school board for the purpose of supplying adequate school accommodation may provide schoolhouses for the district, by building or otherwise. They may improve, enlarge, and fit up any schoolhouse provided by them, and supply school apparatus and everything necessary for the efficiency of the schools so provided (sec. 19). They are to maintain and keep efficient every such school, and are from time to time to provide such additional school accommodation as they may consider requisite (sec. 18).

If the Education Department are satisfied that the school board have failed either to maintain or keep efficient any school provided by them, or to supply such additional school accommodation as is necessary for the district, they may send the school board a requisition requiring them to fulfil