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"CHESTfcft TOWKCOUNCIL. I

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CHESTfcft TOWKCOUNCIL. A monthly meeting of Chester Town Council wao heid on Wednesday at the Town Hall. The Mayor ,Alderman Robert. L%mbl prided. ad tho attendance included tho ShE-riff (Dr. Mann). Aldermen H. T. Brown, W. H. Cliurton, J. J. Cunnah, T Smith, John Jones (B.), Dr Stoiter- foth. John oonae (S.O.), Dr. Hamilton, Dr. Roberts, Councillors John M. Froet. James G. Frost. R. Cecil Da.-iee, J. Dodd. J D. Siddall, G. Barlow. Dr. King, W. Ferguson. W Vernon, D. L Hewirt. R TWnahend Wickham, R. H. Lane-,ic-v J. Egertoa Giibeit, W H. Denson, H. B. Outran, H. Dodd, A. W. Butt, W. Carr, C. P. Cocknll. J. VN iulwwloti, Dr. Griffith. Dr. Lees, Dr. Archer, and the officials. Ir" A COUNCILLOR'S BEREAVLMtIN 1 1 7-1 Tho business of the Oouncii was bmng proooeoea with. when Mr. La-n^eley rose twid sand he did: not know whether the matter had DC'('.Jl overlooked or not. but if it had not been owrl<»kod he cer- tain, v thought this was the st.Ke of the meeting vrhen it should be mentioned Ho referred bo the LmMnta.bie bereavement which had o?rt&bea. Mr. M?iQ Gibb?oa. S?oe he (Mr. laam-loy) had been a member of the Council it had been cus- tf-marv to pais a vote- of condolence with any councilor who had suffered a bereavement. He -would like to suggest, and if nceeesary he was prepaied to move a vote of oondoienoe. Mr. Mar- tin Gibbons certainly movod m the humbler spheres of life, but in that Chamber they ought to know no such distinction. He begged to move that they tender to Mr. Martin (ribbons their sin- ONe sympathy on the occasion of the loss of his devoted wlfe. Mr. Williamson seconded. The Mayor said it was the first, he- had heard of the bereavement, and he ",hou!d like to be per- mitted to move it, from the ehmr. (Hear, hear.) He was- extremely sorry, and should have been tbe first to have taken the matter up it he had known, (Hea.\ hear.) Perhaps tho Sheriff would eecond it. The Sheriff seconded, and tho vote was unaiu- m-rmslv earned in silence. KING'S SCHOOL'S FUTURE. DEPUTATION REOMVED. IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS. I. c- .t.1.1.C A letter had been received from me oura u. the Crovemcrs of tho King fa School. As copies of this letter had been forwarded to each member, it was now taken aa read. The Mayor said In ref-oretiok, to this matter there- was a deputation from the King's Sohool. The Council having decided to receive the deputation, the following gentiemen were ushered into tile Chamber. -Mr John Thompson, the Archdeacon of Chester, Mr. B. C. Roberts and Mr. H Mason. Mr. Thompson, after thanlang the Council for receiving- thorn, said they were desirous of laying the views ot tne (knvernors of the King's School before the whole Council before, as he quite eLX- pected it would be. the matter was left in the hands of the Education Committee He wanted to make out, and ire did not tlnnk lie should have much dimomty, tha.t tha Kmg'f 8ohoot is a neces- 6ity to t?e cny. W?th its present. mouroes it was quite impossible to carry on tho Kmg'a School in auch an ettic?nt manner as such a school ough& to be earned w?. The achooi had been working for some vea.s now under an. unworkable echeme' He called it --unworkable" because it was quite impossible, with the funds at tho disposal of the Governors, to carry on tne school tin a proper way. They had received a report from the Inspectors of the Board ot Education, and had discussed the 1-eport with the Inspectors, at the 1 letters' request. ,T.,ioy now took too earLiost opportunity of discus- slug the matter before the Council. They intended also to app,oaeii tt -k- County Council Dtn the same matter. He waa 'gOtillg to deal with the matters in the report. There is no caidowment of the King s School beyond an endowment provided by the iJean and Chapter of £ 280 a year It was true there was a. oharvfcy from the Oldfieki's Founda- tion but that, he understood, was given in con- sequence oi the aosiafaancd that was rendered by Oldheld's Charity Trustees in 4hn building of thB school. and that endowment varied in amount from £ 3'io per year to E177 per year, a margin of £200 margin of Z200 out ot an exp-exiditurc, of £ 1,400 was rather a large portion, and when they were Labie to have 13200 Icai they could not of course entirely rely upon it The school had been carried on with a grdduaty increasing debt in consequence of tho demands which had to be iiiet. The report said of the headmaster that "h;.¡¡ qualiifcations leave nothing to be desired. He .5c8m,¡ eminently suitable for his position. He is fL-m, good-tempered and tactful. He appeared to have the school well under control. The work cf Jus best boys and their success shew that he is afcie co deal successfully with the higher classical teaching." The headmastor's average salary was JL511. With regard to the ?.ssiustarnt masters, the report stated "the throe senior imstos seem very in sufficiently paid, oor>sidei\ng the length of -their scrvices. The average payment to those assist- ant masters—he (Mr. Thompson) hoped it would not make the members of the Education Com- mittee ItLiti-who wene trained collegiate gentle- men. was £ 144 par year. They would agree it was very inadequate payment foR- mUll of such csilibre. This school must bo pronounoed under- staffed." That was the next crucial remark. The report spoke very favourably on most pomts, and -very unfavourably oo. one or two The unfavour- able clause was in reference to modern languages (Fronell and German^ and to English. Tho Governors bud taloe-a. the earliest opportunity to arrange for better tuition m those* particular re- spects. They had arranged for an improvement | in tho drawing by the inbetided engagement of a. man who was well known in 0Vhcster. The general remarks as to, the discipline of the school appeared to b3 perfectly satisfactory. He would refer to only one other remark- in th0 report, and that was "Tho school &e§ms to be suffering from isola- tioa. It cannot claim to be in touch with either the city of Chester or with tho county of Chestei> yet organic connection with both ought to be es- tablished, and would1 be mutually beneficial. If public support expressed not only in substantial iorm. but ón official naoognition, we-r", accorded by city and county, tOO school would fulfil in a far more etfeotive degroo its functions as a first-grade schooi which prepares for the. University and pro- fessions.' He (Mr. Thompson) wished to speak of what was done for other schools of a similar ch3lrL,ct-er, and what the Inspectors of the Board of Education recommended ought to be done for this school. Norwich Grammar School cost L20 odd per head. Nottingham £ 23, Bristol £ 24, and Manchester ElS., while Prof. Sadler had advised the Corporation of Liverpool that the amount paid fcr each student in. the Liverpool Institute ougiil to be £ 23 per year. All that had been at the disposal of ti-io Gov-ernol;, of the ^Cing'e per liead per year. A science de- partment had reoejitiy instituted at the school at an initial outlay of about. JE430. and a master had been engaged t ?, salary of E.130, in addition to those previously referred to. The county authority had passed ci. resolution that- where a school in a. borough was recognised by the authorities of tho bo-rough and was supported by them. they were prepared to pay a capitulation grant on pupils L',ill. the County who mignt be educated in such a school in a. borough of JE;1 6s. 8d. per head per term, which per year. It was the intention of the Governors of tho King's School to approach (ho County Council at once. It was aeoaas-,dry to get the suppoit and recognition of fihia City Council. There were in the, school about 53 city pupils and about 35 county pupils. They wished to increa-sc. their ex- penditure of JS14. per head to the minimum ipol tc-d out to tiiem by the. Bo.t.rd of Education^ of £20 per head. They wished also to enlist the sympathy of the Council towaids an expenditure of 1;432 for the sei-oaoe departmc-nt. If the City Council would agree toO PiLly the baill0 amount per year on scholars from the city as the County Council would on oounty scho!ars, it would, with the £ 2 per year which they were toid would be received from the Board of Education in conse- quence of the science and ait department, in- crease the £ 14 per head to 1;20 per head. They did not ask tho OiK'tiaii to &fly resolution that day, but to consider wliether the Kingi School is to be kept up as a secondary or first-grade school, and whether it was to be done in an efficient manner. The buildings were all that could bo wished, a:ld the tuition, ;'S far as it went, was all that could be wished II the representa- tion of that Council on. the Governing Body was not sufficient .there would be no difficulty about a rearrangement, [f the Council did help them they wouid be given every roa&ou for being satis- fied. The Archdeacon of Chester said that having been one of the Governors for the last nineteen years he bad seen with growing anxiety the diffi- culties which had attended what would otherwise have been a most excellent sohool—diiffculties of entirely a financial character. Having himself been engaged in tho work of education in a public school, he could understand, perhaps better than those who bad not had similar experience, how the work was crippled by the state, of the ifnances. The Governors had gone boldly and courageously forward 111 the full faith that theio would be that recognition which should be on the part, of the City Council and County Council. Those who took a hand in such work LlLS that would certainly not regret it, because they would fEd in after years they had helped a very good oauie. It was known by every member of the Corporation that the enormous number of scholarships was the cause of the difficulty. When the building was put up, money -which should have been refunded the support of scholarships was put into th«_ building fund, and pupils werc? being educated for nothing in return for money expended upon the excellent buildings of the King's School- Mr. B. C. Roberts said Mr. Thompson had foigotten to mention that the Governors had also engaged a new modern languages master. They hoped the result of that would be very beneficial to the school. Mr. Thompson said he wished to add that at the end of last year the debt amounted to £ 1,800. They did not ask anything towards that, because, he was told, the old pupils of the school were about to take the matter m hand, and that debt would be dealt with independently of any money which might come from any other source. The deputation then withdrew. Alderman H. T. Brown said what the Council had heard was nothing new to him, as he had the honour of sitting on the board of the King's School as tho Council's representative. He moved that the matter be refeired to the Education Com- mittee. Dr. Stoiterfoth seconded, and it was carried. MR. EDGAR DUTTON AND THE WATCH I 6;,NII-lITTEE. A letter was received from Mr. Edgar Dutton resigning his position on the Watch Committee. Alderman Jones (B ): Does he assign any rea- son. Mr. Mayor:' I hope it is not on account of ill-health or anything of that sort. The Town Clerk read Mr. Dutton's letter, in which no reason was given. Mr. Williamson gave notice of motion that Mr. John Griffiths be appointed to fill the vacancy. I RATABLE VALUES. .1 The Assistant Overseer (Mr. W. tohone) reported that the following- amounts were the ratable values at present chargeable with improvement rate. lamp rate watch rate and borough rate (including Free Library rate) :—Improvement and lamp Tates on houses, buildings, etc.. £ 191.951. 15s. on gar- dens (agricultural) chargeable at one-half, E354 8s.; on railways and canals (nett): £ 3,279. 15s making a total of C195,595, 18s. Chargeable to borough and watch rates, agrioulturalland charge- able at one-hlalf, £ 3,558 15s.; buildings and other hereditaments not being agricultural land, £ 213,3o5 12s.; making a total of £ 216.924. 7s. In reply to Alderman H. T. Brown, Mr. Shone said the clerk to the Guardians informed him that so far as he was able to forecast the demands of the Guardians, they would not be more than they were in the past year. He (Mr. Shone) anticipated that voids and other deductions would be about the same. PUBLIC LIGHTING. SUGGESTIONS FOR ECONOMY. I (SLAIMS OF GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT. CLAIMS OF GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT. It was reported that the Lighting Com- mittee recently instructed the Electrical Engineer (Mr. Britton) to make a further report on his views as to where a reduction can be made in the cost of public lighting, to what extent it can be reduced, and the cost of effecting such reduction. Mr. Britton in his report says:—"It must at once be adtaiitted tnat the streets of Chester which are lighted with arc lamps are exquisitely lighted., but when con- sidering the conditions and requirements of local traffic, complaints of exoeasive lighting may be taken as not altogether unreasonable, neverthe- less it does not follow that a mistake has been made in the public lighting of this city. From the shopkeapers' and the police departments' point of view. it is almost impossible to light to-? well, and the same may be said of the visitors who arrive here at all seasons of the year. In fact this is a moat important point for a City that eaters largely for tourists; it being most essen- tial that the places of interest sh-culd be well lighted or half the charm of the unique and his- torical buildings and streets would be lost, so that it would be detrimental in the extreme to have this city badly lighted. At present I ad- mit in this respect the requirements of the most fastidious of tourists is amply met, and the local requirements more than met. To suggest, with- out involving unreasonable expense, practical alterations to any work which has been well executed is by no means easy, neither is it always satisfactory as by altering one arrangement the efficiency of others is otten seriously impaired. This has very forcibly been impressed upon me in dealing with the re-arranging of your public lighting. The suggestions I have to submit are not altogether satisfactory from a street lighting point, as the It-ht;n,- will not be evenly distri- buted, although, if carried out, will effect a con- siderable reduction in the cost of public lighting. The half-night lamps from Grosvenor Bridge "0 Saltney have not been lighted since your last meeting, and it is my opinion that the streets in this district are sufficiently lighted without them and these lamps can well be dispensed with. On Wednesday, February 22nd', the whole of the half- night open-tpye lamps Were not lighted, in other words 73 lamps were used instead of 133. With a few exceptions, such as corners, curves, and narrow parte of streets, there was sufficient light for the traffic requirements, and after a very care- ful inspection, I am of opinion that the following lamps might well be dispensed with, viz. Open-type lamps: Saltney to Grosven-cr Bridge 15, Grosvenor-road to Bridge-street 3, Bridge- street and Lower Bridge-street to Cross 4, Nicholas-street 2, Liverpool-road 4, Brook-street 3, Foregate-street 2, City-road 3, Boughton 3, Tarvin-rcad 1, Christleton-road 2, total 42 En- closed lamp^: Seller-street and Egerton-street 3, Union-street 1, John-street 1, St. Anne-street 4, George-street 1. Gorse Stacks 1, total 11. In- candescent lamps: Queen-street 1, Princess- street 1. Milton-street 1. Back Brookstreet 1, William-street 1, Walter-street 1, Trafford-street 1, Hunter-street 1, total 8. Then there are 132 incandescent lamps each containing 3.8 c.p lamps, and 33 containing 4.8 c.p lamps. By substituting these with t ampere "Nernst" lamps a better light would b" given, and it would be equal to dispensing with 99 incandescent lamps. The f.r, .? I'll, ti?ons dispense with lamps which now cost £812. 18s. lOd. per annum. The cost of the work necessary for these alterations is esti- mated at £ 457. 10s. The idle lamp;, posts and accessories corinected with the lamps which would be thrown out of use are estimated at £ 3,192 113 6d., and represent a charge against revenue of about J6192 per anum to meet interest cn loans and sinking fund!. It would be unfair to expect the income from private consumers to meet the annual charge of JE192 and the cost of altering public fighting, viz., £ 457. 10s. These amounts should be met by the public lighting account, and not by the private lighting account. If this is done the cost of public lighting would only be reduc~i £ 163. 8s. lOd. for the first year, and £ 620. 18s IQd. for subsequent years. That is a Jd. rate. This point requires very careful consideration, especially when considering— (1) the decreased lighting. (2) the not altogether satisfactory lighting of some of the streets, (3) that E192 is required each year to meet charges on idle capital Personally I am much in doubt whether the whole cf the alterations suggested are worth doing, for the lamps and accessories are more liable to rapid deterioration and damage by not being kept in use, than they would be if used occasionally. The matter is a most difficult one, and under the circumstances I consider a bolder step is the right course to take, viz. :—To leave the. arc lamps in their present positions, and for the, time being use the half-night lamps on Saltney-road, Grosvenor-road, Bridge-street, Lower Bridge-street, Nicholas-street, Seller- street, Egerton-street, and St. Anne-stre.et, on say Saturdays only, so as to keep them in go-cd order, the remainder to be lightee- as usual; 1?;?en lamps would practically be dispensed with, and would reduce public kghti!lg by about £200 per annum until extensions become I necessary. These latter might then: be dealt with and taken down as required for use in new districts. The incandescent lamps might be dealt with in a similar way. Instead of pur- chasing new parts, etc., for extensions and re- pairs, the unnecessary lamps should be taken down and used for extensions. The 132 3-lamp fittings and 33 4-iamp-fittings should be converted as parts are required for repairs, and modern and efficient lamps substituted in their place. This would be a gradual and efficient way of bringing the present system of side street lighting up to date. There are 174 gas lamps, 141 in use for street lighting, and 33 for court lighting. Two at a cost of £ 6. 12s. each per annum, and the remainder at E2. 14s. each per annum. In the bulk of the courts hghted by electric light one 8 c.p. lamp is used at a cost of El. 8s. 10d. per annum as compared with gas lamps at B2. 14g. 6d. (abcut 13 c.p.) As the gas lamps are gradu- ally being substituted for electric lamps I think the time has oome when these lamps should be converted and all the public lighting brought under one control. The cost of converting all the gas lamps is estimated not to exceed £ 1,900. It will be remembered that in my first report on public lighting (three months ago) I stated that for the year ending March, 1904. there was a loss of E667. From the City Accountant's esti- mR-te. of the working of the electricity undertak- ing for the year ending March, 1905* it will be observed that the generating costs and also the public lighting costs are- reduced as compared with last year. Owing to these reductions there will net be a less on public lighting for the pre- sent year, and I am very hopeful of still further reductions during the year ending March, 1906. The,re would then be a profit on public lighting, and the charge might be reduced. Briefly. my views are: -1. That 31 arc lamps situated in Saltney-road, Grosvenor-road, Bridfe- street, Lower Bridge-street, Nicholas-street, Seller-street, Egerton-street and St. Anrie-street should be lighted one day a week until they are required for lighting new district; 2. Tba arc lamps on Liverpcol-road. Brook-street, Foregate- street. /City-road. Boughton. Tarvm-road, and Christleton-road be re-arranged, and reduced by 11 lamps, when lamps are required: for a new district. (These to be dealt with before those of No. 1.) 3. The unnecessary incandescent lamps to be taken down as and when they are required for new di-tricts. 4. When parts can be used for repairs to other lamps, the 3 and 4-way incan- descent lamps be converted to ampere "Nernst." 5. The whole of the gas lamps be substituted by electric lamps, ampere "Nernst" be used in street lamps, and 8 c.p. lamps in courts. 6. If it is decided to light the whole of the public lamps by electricity that it be done, tor a 5jd. rate, say £ 4,400, and at the end of one year ths matter be again considered with the view to a further reduction in the cost of public lighting. After a long di? *scus,;on th,-? co III' ? solved— "That it be reoemmended to the Council that: 1. Twenty-three arc lamps situated in I Hough Green, Grosvenor-road, Nicholas-strelet, Seller-street, and Egerton-street be lighted one day a week only. 2. The unnecessary incandes- cent lamps to be taken down as and when they f are required for new districts. 3. When parts can be used for repairs to other lamps, the 3 and 4-way incandescent lamps be converted to am- i pere "Nernst" lamps, and 4, the whole of the publtic- lamps in the city be lighted with elec- tricity, the committee being authorised to pro- vide and lay the mains, and provide and fix the lamps and appliances necessary for the purpose (i ampere "Nernst" lamps being adopted in the street, and 8 c.p. lamps in courts), at an estimated cost of 21,900, the total charge for public light- ing to be reduced to a sum equivalent to a. lamp rate of 5id. in the £ (say £ 4,400). •t. The Mayor, in moving the adoption, of the recommendation, said since they had had Mr. | Britlion as engineer they had every reason to be satisfied with the advice he gave the Lighting Ccmmittee. He did not doubt that if they took his advice on this occasion economy would be effected. Too Town Clerk reported that the following letter had been received from Mr. Fred A. Pye, secretary and general manager to the Chester United Gas Company "Publio Lighting. As the above matter is to be brought forward at the next meeting of the Chaster Town Council, I am instructed to write and remind you that so long ago as November, 1898, this company offered to convert the gas lamps in any district approved by the Corporation from flat flame burners to incande&oent burners. This system of gas light- ing is admittedly superior to the electric incan- descent system, is adopted by all lighting authorities in the country, and affords a light at least four or file, times that given by flat flame gas burners at the same cost. I am also instructed to say that if the improvement of the public lighting in districts not fitted with electric aro lamps is to be considered, my company are willing to consider any suggestions the Corpora- tion may make as to the substitution of incan- descent gas burners in suoh districts." Mr. H. B. Dutton protested against the proposal to light all the public lamps in the city with elec- tricity. He was not interested in the Gas Com- pany, but he knew that in many of the largest towns in the country, such as London, Man- chester and Liverpool, the system of incandescent gas lighting had been replacing the incandescent electric light. He proposed that portion of the resolution be referred back to the committee for further consideration. A large expense would be incurred i'n laying the mains in the oourts. He contended that in the courts they wanted in- creased lighting and not a. diminution. The amendment was not seconded. Mr. Carr pointed out with regard to what Mr. Dutton had said concerning the substitution of incandescent gas for electric light in Manchester, they ownedi their own gas. (Hear, hear.) Alderman John Jones (B) And very badly lighted is Manchester. The recommendation was adopted with only one dissentient. I CITY ACCOUNTANT'S SALARY. The finance Committee recommended that the salary of the City Accountant (Mr. Beckett) be increased, from C450 to JE500 per annum. Mr. Beckett staijed that yielding to the repre- sentations of friends on the Council respecting the depressed state of trade in Chester he had de- cided to ask the Council to allow him to with- draw the present application. At the same time he felt sure the Council would agree with him that he was entitled to an increase in his salary in respect of the great increase in the responsi- bilities plaoed upon him in connection with edu- cation and other accounts. The duties attached to his office had been nearly doubled during the last five years. He therefore placed himself in the hands of the Council in the hope that in the near future they would see he was adequately remunerated for the services he was rendering to the city. (Applause.) The Town Clerk said he had received a letter from the Ratepayers' Association relating to this particular matter, but as Mr. Beckett had with- drawn his resolution, he supposed it was not the wish of the Council that the letter should be read. The Council expreased its approval of this course. THE ANNUAL ESTIMATES. SATISFACTORY BUDGET. A REDUCTION OF THE RATES. The City Accountant (Mr. F. J. Beckett) had issued to the members of the Finance Committee his estimate of income. and expenditure for the ensuing financial year, and the estimates, which have been passed by the other committees cf the Council, and his report thereon. He says:- FINANCE COMMITTEE.—The amount set down in the estimates last year for the portion of the expenses of the Corporation administered by the Finance Committee was £ 13,394; the aotual expenditure will be £ 13,276. For the forthcoming year increased sums are required for interest and sinking fund payments. THE TOWN HALL AND PARLIAMEN- TARY COMMITTEE.—A sum of JE629 was al- lowed last year to meet the expenses of the Town Hail. Of this amount about £200 will remain unexpended. A further sum of S200 allowed for contingencies has not been required. The total amount asked for by the committee for next year is JE556 less than the sum set down in the esti- mates for the current year. PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE. The total sum provided for the service of the year was £4,808, the amount expended will probably not exceed £ 3,900. The difference is accounted for by an increase in income, and a saving in ex- pediture at the Isolation Hospital. Under the heading, Removal of House Refuse, in the new estimate the item contingencies is intended to include the cost of two more covered vans, should the committee decide to purchase them. MARKETS AND BATHS COMMITTEE.— The income derived from the public baths shews an increase of J690 as compared with the previous year. There has also been considerable saving in the expenditure for fuel and water. The- nett expenditure estimated was £1,653, but it will probably not be more than £ 1,324. It is estimated that the receipts from the public mar- ket and licences of sale of things out of the market, viz.— £ 2,346, will slightly exceed the total for the previous year, but it is not antici- pated that there will be any further improve- ment. The expenditure is 2200 below tha esti- mate, a saving having been effected in the cost of lighting and repairs also the amount (EIOO) set down for consingencies has not been required. It was expected that the Cattle Market tells would produce a sum of E410 for the year; but it is now estimated that a sum of jE515 only will be received. Out of this income the following ex- peases have to be met, viz.—Collection of tolls, JE49. 17s. 4d.; cleaning market, £ 99. 5s. Id. cost of water for markets, JEM. 10s. 3d.; print- ing and stationery, £10. 6s. Id.; total, JB209 15s 9d. SEWERING COMMITTEE.—A sum of £ 1,365 provided for in the estimates will remain unex- pended, and will be- carried to the general sur- plus of the borough fund. In the estimates al- lowed for the coming year provision has to bo made for the maintenance of the New Sewage Purification Works. EDUCATION COMMITTEE.—The amount a lowed by the Council to meet the expenses of carrying out the provisions of the Education Act, 1902, for the year ending on the 31st inst., will prove insufficient by nearly £ 1,400, the actual expenditure to be borne by the borough fund will be about £ 6,680. The amount required for next year is estimated at £ 8,000. IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.—Under the heading Rents and Dividents is included the re- ceipts from the Chester Race Company, Limited, which amounted to £ 1,422. 8s. 6d., as compared with £ 1,327 in the previous year. WATCH COMMITTEE.—The income from boating and boatmen's licences, less the expenses for controlling and regulating traffio on the river, ir, E105. 9.5* 8d. SUMMARY OF THE BOROUGH RATE.— With the surplus remaining at the oommence- meat of the financial year, viz.:— £ 5,250. 0s. 10d., and a borough rate bringing in £ 27,342. 12s. 4d., it was estimated that there would be a surplus at the close of the year cf E3,613 15s. Id., the actual surplus will be about £ 5,882. This surplus has accrued in consequence of the economy exercised by nearly an the committees of the Council. THE FREE LIBRARY RATE.—The com- mittee, having kept the expenditure well withm the estimate, have. further reduced the balance due on the free library account. The deficiency at the close of the present financial year will be about JE257. Since the estimate was passed the committee have commenced to make changes in the staff, and' effected other economies, which will bring about, a further reduction in the ex- penses but this will not alter the amount to be provided in the rater, for free library purposes. THE IMPROVEMENT RATE.—It is ex- pected that there. will be a surplus of £ 2,571. 9s. 4d at the end of the present finanoial year, as compared with an amount of LI,158 anticipated when framing the estimates last year. The rea- son of this increase in the balance arises from the fact that the committee have not been able to carry out the Boughton roadway improvement, with the exception of a small expenditure of JE55 18s. 6d' but they anticipate- that they will com- plete this work during the next financial year. Some land has been purchased for street im- provements, and some. works executed which were not provided for in the estimates last year, and your oommjttee. will have to decide whether the expenditure is to be met. out of the current year's revenue or out of the balance, standing to the credit of the Improvement Rate Loan Account. THE WATCH RATE.-A.c,-ardlng to last year's estimate it was anticipated that the year would close with a surplus of E475. 13s. 2d.. and it appears that the actual surplus will be. L485 15s. 3d. With the same rate of 4d'. in the £ the estimated surplus at 25tph March, 1906, is E789 2s. 3d. It is essential that this amount should be retained to provide th necessary balance for working the police account. The deficiency on the polioe pension fund continues to increase each year, and will probably be JB500 for the forthcom- ing -finaneill year. The state of the police pen- sion fund has become a serious question for police authotfities all over the co,t:-v. ana a movement is now on foot to brkig the matter before the Association of Municipal Corporations, with a view to asking- Parliament to make an increased grant equal t-o one-half tho cost of pencions and allowances. Chester's share of the Exchequer Contribution Grant, which in 1891 was equal to 53 per cent. of the pensions paid, has fallen to 32 per cent. on the grant just received for the year ending 31st March, 1905. LIGHTING COMMITTEE.—The committee are recommending the Council to adopt a new scheme of public lighting, and anticipating that the same. will be adopted, they have revised their estimate so as to r,dt,,c- their expenditure under this head to £4.430, ,¡;, compared with £ 5,285 which will be required if the present system is to continue. The new scheme will allow an ad- ditional sum of about JB850 being carried to the borough fund from the exchequer contribution account. IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE: OLEAN- ING THE STREETS.-Clooning the streets has cost the city nearly JE500 more than in the pre- vious. year, and the increase is attributable to the following -Wages paid to labourers (total for year, 21,313), £ 171; removal of snow (total cost for year. £ 435), £ 270; street watering (total cost for year, £ 326), £ 62. The committee ask for B2,977 for next year, being an increase over the last estimate of JE242. FIRE BRIGADE DEPARTMENT.—A sum of JB450 was allowed for the nett expenditure of the Fire Brigade. The aotual expenditure will be £378, a saving having been effected on all items of the account. The committee ask for J6434 for next year, which sum includes JE50 for the provision of new hose. SUMMARY OF LAMP RATE.—The lamp rate at 6d. in the £ 1 (which last year produced £ 4,840. 15s. 8d.) falls short of the total expendi- ture on street lighting and expenses of the Fire Brigade by a sum of JB648. 19s. 3d. Following the usual course vhis amount must be trans- ferred from the exchequer contribution account. Whether it will be again necessary to estimate that a transfer from this account will be re- quired at the end of the next financial year, wiill depend on the decision of the Council on the new scheme for public lighting. ELECTRIC LIGHT UNDERTAKING— From accounts which have been prepared to as- certain as approximately as possible the remit of the year's trading, it would appear that the balance of revenue account to be added to the reserve fund will be £ 1,300. TRAMWAYS UNDERTAKING.—The in- come for the year ending on the 25th instant, in- cluding the sum of JE272 for advertising on the cars, will probably be £ 9,462 as compared with LB,916 received for the period from 6th April, 1903, to 25th March, 1904. The expenditure for < the same period will be £ 9,237, as compared with £ 8,575 in the previous year. The surplus for the year ending the 25th March, 1904, was JE540. lls. 2d.. the estimated surplus for the current year is L224, 7s. 10d., or a total surplus of £ 504 19s., but it is anticipated that the accounts for the year ending 25th March, 1906, will shew a deficiency of 2126. RATES FOR 1905-6.—Should your committee I recommend the Council to adopt the estimates as now submitted, precepts will have to be issued to the overseers to collect sums equivalent to (1) a borough rate of 2s. 7d. in the j31 (including expenses of carrying the Publio Libraries Acts into exeoution); (2) a watch rale of 4d. in the £1 (3) an improvement rate of 9d. in the El; (4) a lamp rate of 6d. in the Ll, which will involve a total of rates for municipal purposes of 4s. 2d. in the :Cl. With regard to the borough rate an ad- ditional sum equivalent to Id. in the 91 will be required if the Council reject the proposed new scheme aa to public lighting. Alderman H. T. Brown moved the confirmation of the following recommendation of the Finance I Committee:—"That the Council do make and issue orders for raising sums equivalent to—(1) Borough rate (including the expenses of carrying the Public Libraries Acts into execution) of 2s. 7d. in the £ (or 2s. 8d. in the £ if the Council reject the proposed new scheme of public lighting) (2) a watch rate of 4d. (3) an improvement rate of 9d. (4) a lamp rate of 6d." Alderman Brown said the satisfactory state of the year's finance arose very iargely from three causes—first, the very careful consideration which was given by every committee to the estimates which were laid before the Council and the very loyal way in which the committees kept to those estimates. In the second place, they always contrived to have a working balance which enabled tliom to carry on the business of the Council without having re- course to that, somewhat expensive system of borrowing money from their bankers. The third cause waa that the large spending committees made provision for extraordinary expenses that could not be anticipated at the commencement of the year. He hoped that system would con- tinue to be adopted, for he was sure it was sound finance and it was exceedingly satisfactory to the Council at the end of the year to be able to present accounts which justified anticipations. Referring to the tramways undertaking. Alder- man Brown 'said the income derived from the tramways during the twelve months would be approximately E9,462, as against £ 8,916 in the preceding year, shewing a substantial increase. The entire expenses during the year it was estimated would amount to £ 9,237, which included the interest on the loan and the amount paid to the sinking fund. That left an estimated surplus on 25th March of L224. 7s. lOd. upon the year's working, but it was anticipated that at the close of next year there would be a dent on the year's working of E126. They would therefore have up to March, 1905, a surplus of E564, so that would leave a surplus on the tramway ac- count on the 25th March. 1906, of JE458. 19s., which represented the profit on the undertaking of nearly three years. There was no reserve fund whatever on the tramways account, and so long as the loan period lasted all renewals and repairs upon that undertaking must be paid out of revenue. He was therefore afraid they could not expect to make a fortune out of the tramways undertaking as it at present existed. With regard to the electric light account, there again—for the present, at all events—they could find no relief for their rates from that source. The income for the twelve months was estimated at £ 17,123. again an increase of income, which last year was £ 16,584. The total expenditure under the heads of generation and distribution of electricity, public lamps management expenses and special charges was estimated at 97,921, wll. ch left a nett revenue of £ 9,200, out of which was paid first of all interest on loans, £ 3,242; transfer to sinking fund, £ 3,025; payment to reserve fund, £ 1,300; which brought up the reserve fund to about £ 9,000. There had been written off certain works to the value of £ 1,500. Those works were practically new works, but. being renewals, they would b3 paid out of revenue. That left an ultimate balance upon that account of £ 1C8. 5s. lid. Alluding to the lamp rate. Alderman Brown said the estimates had been framed upon the assumption—justified by the resolution they had just passed—that the Council would adopt a now system of lighting. The ex- penditure upon public lighting for the year would be about £ 5,112. It was estimated that under the system they were now about to adopt the cost would be £ 4,430. The expenses of the Fire Brigade weuld be about £ 377. They were greatly indebted to the brigade for the service they had rendered to the town. and the smallness of the sum they .paid for proper protection from fire placed them under a deep debt of obligation to the members of the brigade for their voluntary services. (Hear, hear.) With regard to tho Free Library rate, he was glad to say that the Free Library Committee had been enabled, notwithstanding their very restricted finances, to effect some little economy. Now that they had an opportunity of re-arranging their staff, they might be enabled to still further reduce the debt. In connection with the improve- ment rate. Alderman Brown mentioned that tho £ 2,000 provided for the Boughton roadway im- provement. and which had remained unspent, would be required, as the works would probably be completed this year. They now asked for E3,695 for tho forthcoming year, as compared with an approximate expenditure for last year of £ 5,933 and an estimated expenditure of £ 7,680. The amount raised by an improvement rate at 9d. in the £ was estimated at £ 7,261. 3s. 6d.. and deducting the estimated nett ex- penditure of £ 5.933. 6s. lOd., left them with a surplus for the year of £ 1.327. That. added to the surplus brought forward from the previous year, brought. their surplus up to £ 2,790. The amount to be raised during the ensuing year. if the Council sancroned a 9d. rate, was £7,261 3s. 6d.. which made £ -10.051. 12s. lOd. Deducting from that an estimated expenditure of L8,696, there would remain; an -estimated surplus on March 25th of El,355. 12s. lOd. That, they thought, would be a sufficient surplus as a work- ing balance, though it was very much less than they had before. Coming to the borough rate, which he said includ2d establishment charges, expenses of the Town Hall, Publio Health Com- mittee and Isolation Hospital, Markets and Baths Committee, Sewering Committee, and the Edu- cation Committee in its two branches, Alderman Brown said the expenditure of the Finance Committee had been about £ 11,565 as against an expenditure in the preceding year of £ 12,575. The reduction, though not very great, was something. After referring to' the Town Hall and Isolation. Hospital expenses, he said the Baths cost this year about £ 2,014, or, giving credit for the incomc, £ 1,323, as against an estimated expen- diture of £1.653, and an actual expenditure in the preceding year of £ 1,232. There was an in- crease in the receipts which was satisfactory. The receipts amounted to JB691, as against JE599 in the preceding year. He hoped that that in- oreaso would go on. and people would use the baths more than hitherto. The Public Markets would have produced about £ 1,241, as against £1,078 in the preceding year. The nett income of the Cattle Market and Smithfield was about JE138 as against L289 in the preoedmg year. He did not know if there was any reason to account for that falling off, but it. was very much to be regretted that the Smithfield profits had diminished, because it shewed that their market had not been resorted to in the same way as hitherto. The Sewering Committee's expenditure had been £4,860, and the income JB858. making a nett expenditure of £ 4,002, £ 3,000 of which was interest on capital expenditure and contribution to sinking fund. Turning to the expenditure on education. Alder- man Brown said he must confess that the com- mittee during the past year had outrun the con- stable, but there were reasons to justify it. The great expense had b--n elementary education, which had cost about £ 16,969. As against that they had received in the way of grants, school fees and so cn £ 13,959. That was to say, that so far as Chester was concerned, it cost them E3,000, the Imperial Exchequer furnishing between £ 12.000 and £ 13,000. He would like to explain why their expenditure had rather considerably exceeded tne .estimate. The estimates for elementary education as submitted by the sub-committee of the Education Committee, amounted to 217,223, and the income was estimated at £12,945. When that estimate was brought before the Education Committee, it somewhat alarmed them, andl they strove as far as they could to reduce it. That was very praiseworthy from the point of view they took, but he did not know it was qlde wIso always to reduce things in that way without good reason, but lit was rather misleading the public. Under pressure the committee reduced their estimate to 915,632. and the expenditure had turned out to be £ 16,969. If ajl t!at was made in the Council to still further reduce the estimate had' succ-eeded they wOltld hav, had a, still more sorry tale to tell. bins were in their first stage then, and they in Chester had been only used to paying something like a penny in the £ for educational purposes, and they were somewhat alarmed at talking about lOd. But there was the fact that they must now accustom themselves to pay as happily as they could 10d. and possibly more in the future. They were llt wor,,2, off than their neighbours, for he saw in Lordon they were paying lg 6d. They must re- member that they were not their own masters; they had the Board of Education crer them, who had the power of insisting upon certain things being done in the schools. They were the predominant partner. The estimate for the total Borough Rate was 233,962, and deducting esti- mated income of C3,440, there would: remain a nett expenditure to be met of 930,522. The amount raised by a borough rate of 2s. 7d. n the £ would produce £ 27.342. 12s. 4d., and deducting the nett expenditure of last year of £26,710, left I a surplus for the year of 2631. 15s. 10d., which, i added to a surplus of £ 5,250 from the previous year, made £ 5,881. If the rate of 2s. 6d. reaiuod what it was estimated it would—namely, £ 26.464 —ti.at would produce surplus and rate, £ 32,54b so that deducting an estimated nett expenditure of £ 30,522 at the close of the succeeding year, they would have in hand a balance of LI,824, which was quite as little as they ought to tave. The total rates for municipal purposes would amount 4s. 2d. Mr. Shone had told him that the poor law guardians would not require more than they did last year, and if that rate would bring the total to 6s. Id. in the £ —a penny less than the rates of last year. He would like to call their attention to the experience of other towns. He had a returii, compiled by the borough treasurer of Preston, shewing the rates for all purposes for 1904-5 of 88 towns, many of which were of the same size as Chester. The rates of those towns showed an average of 7s. 3d. in the £ He did not think, therefore, that Chester could be called extravagant or very highly rated; and they must remember they re- ceived nothing towards the rates in Chester from their commercial undertakings, whereas a great many of the other towns he had referred to made a great deal from those sources. The only sources which relieved the rates in Chester were the corporate estates and the markets, and he hoped the public at large would give the Town Council credit for endeavouring, at all events, to conduct the business of the town as economically as they could. (Applause.) Dr. Stolterfoth seconded. Mr. Egerton Gilbert said there seemed to be a misunderstanding in the public mind with regard I to the administration expenses of the Education Committee, and he had had one or two enquiries regarding the sum or jjZ,bbti which was put down. He should like to know whether the Lighting Committee had made up their minds as to the final amount of the reserve, whether they could give the citizens any hope that there would be any relief to the rates from the electric light undertaking, which had been some eight years in existence. Alderman H. T. Brown understood that they were bound to create a reserve fund to the extent of 10 per cent, of their capital, which was £ 120,000. That would be £ 12,000. With regard to the expenses of the administration of the Education Committee, the Director of Education could hardly be made responsible for the entire expenses. He got the modest sum of JE514, the clerks received JB177, and printing and stationery came to E532. Alluding to the large cost of the Corporation printing and stationery, the alderman expressed pleasure that the Finance Committee had appointed a small committee to take the matter in hand. It required supervision. Alderman Churton said last year the estimated amount of school fees was £ 769. There was a resolution on the subject of school fees down on the agenda, but nothing was said in the estimated receipts on the subject. If the resolution were confirmed it would make a difference of Id. in the £ in their rates. ("No, no.") Mr. Vernon: Half of it is paid back. Alderman Churton: It will make a halfpenny then. Mr. Vernon: A farthing. Alderman Churton: Whatever it is, that sum has not been credited in these accounts. Mr. Lancelev claimed that it was not com- petent for the alderman to discuss the question at that point. The Mayor ruled Mr. Churton was in order. Alderman Churton proceeded to argue that some of the prfitii Ma N. "'by d d to argue that some of the profits made by the electric light undertaking and the trams should be devoted to the credit of the rates. He sympathised with Alderman Brown as to the enormous amount of printed matter that was issued to the Council. He generally devoted Sunday to reading the matter—(laughter)—and if any legitimate means could be taken to reduce the expenditure, or reduce the labour to the eyes of the members of the Council, he, for one, would very much welcome It. I _PRINTING TENDER, ETC. The following recommendations of the Finance Committee were accepted (1) That the tender of Mr. G. R. Griffith to execute the Corpora-tion general printing for the year ending the 25th day of Mar., 1906. bo accepted. (2) That the tender of Messrs. Phillipson and Golder to supply the sta- tionery during the year ending the 25th day of March, 1906, be accepted. (3) That the Council do appoint the undermentioned overseers for the ensuing year, viz. Alderman John Jones (S.O.), Mr. Councillor John Davies Siddall, Mr. Council- lor David Lythall Hewitt, Mr. J ames Hunter (Hough Green). MR. G. R. GRIFFITH BECOMES DIS- QUALIFIED. In reply to Mr. James G. Frost, the Town Clerk said the printing included the minutes, eto., of the Education Committee, and Mr. G. R. Griffith would render himself liable to penalties if he took part in the proceedings of that oommittee. An- swering Mr. Siddiall, the Town Clerk added that the procedure would be for Mr. Griffith to send a letter of resignation, and then for the recom- mending body to submit another name to the Council for election on the Education Committee. SMALL MUNICIPAL LOANS. On the motion of Alderman Brown, seconded by Alderman Stolterfoth, the following recommen- dation of the Finance Committee was adopt,ecl: "That loans of £ 25 and multiples of £ 25 be re- ceived, and that interim receipts be given for all sums under £100, to be exchanged for a mortgage to that amount." Alderman Stoiterfoth said it. gave an opportunity to those who had small savings to take an interest in the municipal work of the town -In reply to Mr. H. B. Dutton, the Town Clerk said the rate of interest would be the same as the Council wore at present paying on mortgage.s-3i for short periods and for longer periods. SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME. The Education Committee recommended that subject to the approval of the Board of Education the scheme for scholarships (with the exception of junior scholarships without reference to pupil teachersnip, boys only), be approved and adopted. —Mr. John Dodd asked if it was open for the education authority to require that pupil teachers who were awarded scholarships by that authority should for some years afterwards devote their ser- vices to the' authority. The Town Clerk said he had not had notice of the question, and was not prepared to answer it then. He was afraid if it were competent for the Council to do so it would be a very difficult mas- ter to carry out in practice. Mr. J. Dodd said he maintained that the cost of training pupil teachers should fall upon the f National Exchequer. The National Union of Teacheis had got. the matter under consideration. If they bound down teachers in the way indicated it would not give them sufficient scope. It would pre- vent men from the North going down to the South and vice versa According to the scholaiship ¡ooheme the thirty Grosvenor free soholarships wore to be reduced to twenty, thereby depriving work- ingmen of ten soholarships. He entered has pro- test against that. Mr. Lancelev said it wa,s all very well to say the cost must be borno by tho National Ex- chequer; the onus of training. tho teachers was on the local authority. Alderman Brown said teachers must ba properly trained, and there was nothing else but the local rates to do it from until the Imperial Exchequer took upon itself the duty. The recommendation was adonted. BATTLE OF THE SCHOOLS. THE FEES QUESTION. VIGOROUS DEBATE. MR. LANCELEY'S CHARGES. Alderman H. T. Brown moved the following re- commendations of the Education Cammit.te-e:- (1) "That the evolution passed at the meeting of the Council on the 16th December, 1903, viz., 'That all the elemsntary schools in the city be freed from payment of fees as from the commencement of the financial year, the 1st April. 1S05, and that there be no distinction between any of the elementary schools of the city, but that they all be brought up gradually to give the, sltmo level of educational advantages,' be rescinded; and (2) that such of the publio elementary schools in the city as at present charge fees shall be allowed to continue to do so until 31st March, 1907." In doing so, Alderman Brown adduced the arguments which he advanced at the Education Committee to shew that it would be a prudent thing under all the circumstances to extend the time in which these school were to receive fees as hitherto. He was quite satisfied that there was a need for the schools which had been supported by fees. It would ulti- mately lK1 for the Education Committee to con- sider whether as part of their secondary education scheme some sort of jumoT secondary school should not be formed which would meet the. need "at present supplied by the fee-paying schools. Mr. James G. Frost seconded. The Town Clerk read a letter from the R-ato- payers' Association, expressing the hope that the Council would approve of the committee's recom- mendation. Mr. Lanoeley submitted—and he did not do so offensively—that the promoters of the recommen- dation were not sincere. What they wanted to do was to put thing's off. To let things progress did not come into their "vocabulary" at all. They wanted to keep the humbler classes, t,o use their own words.. in their fit and proper station. They did not want to encourage any am- bition so far as education was con- cerned in tho mind s of the humbler classes, much less make provision for it. What the State made compulsory the State must make free was an axiom he heartily subscribed to. He did not think many in that Council would ques- tion the statement that the Education Act. of 1870 and subsequent Acts relating to it, including the Act of 1952, had not had as their goal free elemen- I tary education. There would be fewer members of the Council who would not be prepared to subscribe to this, that the beet asset we as a nation could have was a system that should thoroughly equip t.he rising race for the battle of hfe. Ho appeqIcd to them not. to' consider the Question in its merely narrow and local cons:dera- tipns. but to look at it from a national and patri- otic point of view. Having referred to progress under a system of free education. largely, on the Continent and in America, he quoted figures as to the position of free education in this country. Were they going to let Chester be one of the back spots on the education map of this country ? Tie mere consideration of £350, which did not. come to 2d. on the rate, was as nothing compared with the advantages that a system of fre-e educa- tion, absolutely unfettered by any monetary con- si do rations, would be to th, residents of the city. By mainta-ining the fees they would maintain distinctions that were most invidious, and there- fore most unwarrantable. One of the fee-paying schools was less suited for educational training than any other in the city, and yet it received the highest, amount of money in fees, and because the education authority voted half of them back, the man-ag-er3 were so much benefited thereby. There weie managers of that, school in the Coun- cil, and if half of those fees were returned then the managers were likely to bs pecuniarily bene- fited. When the time cam- for voting those mana- gers should carefully consider whether they were entitled or whether it was wise to vote on that matter. The fees charged at the- various schools worked out as follows:—St. Paul's 2s. 9d. per scholar of those who paid fees—there were some who did not pa.y fees at St. Paul's; St. John- street, lis. lOd. per head; College, about the same; Hunter-street, almost the same. The in- vidious distinctions that the return of haif the j fees sot up ought not to be upheld by the Coun- j cil. If the high-feed schools gave superior edu- cational advantages, he should be prepared to upport it up to a certain extent. The reeom- mendation was simply a question of maintaining a certain amount of control by a certain section Ii of the community. At the Education Committee meeting the recommendation was decided upon by elovon votes to six. So far as the representa- tion n.t that meeting was directly responsible to the ratepayers it was six to six. The whole majority were constituted by co-opted members, and a remarkfLblB thing was they represented one religious community. It was a question of THE CLERICAL PARTY I maintaining control over the schools; and until they wera told by the Council that they were not going to have such control, and that they (the Council) found the money and were going to have control of tho education, the city would be in the background instead of in the van of educational progress. Tho Council should be no party to call- ing upon any parent, whether he or she could afford it or not, to pay twice over for the educa- tion of his or her children. It was contended that tbey must provide schools for tho "better class. He wanted to know who the "better class" were. Were they the skilled artisans who could afford to pay threepence, sixpence or nine-penoe ptr week for their children? If it meant that, let them carry the (argument one stage further. The- men who could afford to &end their sons to the King's School and their daughters to the Queen's School were removed still further from those who could pay sixpence and ninepence. The logical conclu- sion of the argument was that the men who could afford to pay more were better men. He re- sented suoh an insinuation with all the emphasis of which he was capable. (Laughter.) He (Mr. Lancelev) lived in Victoria-road—(laughter)—and he knew members of the Council who lived in Brook-lano, Deva-terrace and Boughton. Was lie any the worse man because he lived there? (Loud laughter and applause.) Were they of an inferior order to tho gentlemen who lived on Hough Green? (Laughter.) Was it money and material wealth which made tho man? He said divest them of the poverty and wealth, and men were men "for a' that." (Hear, hear.) He him- self knew men who in their earlier days found themselves, unfortunately, through the neglect of their^arents, in dirt and squalor, but who to-day, because of their own indomitable perseverance and British pluck, had risen to high position. He appealed to them to do all they could to help tho children—if they liked, the children of the gutter—and lot them do it by bringing their own children, who had been favoured by living in better conditions, into contact with them. Let them lift the more unfortunate children. Let them bring them all up to the same standard of education efficiency, and not do anything that would tend to subsidise any influence that was clirootly antagonistic to popular control. Let that bo their goal, and let them brush every hindrance aside, and see that the education of the rising race of the city was in their hands. One of the local papers said that this matter was considered in 1S03, and a census was taken of tho wishes of tho -parents desirous of paying fees. He knew something of the methods that were taken at one school with a view of .ascertaining the views of the parents. The result was condemned by the methods employed. The children were told that if education was made free they would have to mix with "dirty little kiddies at Princess-street." He appealed; to the Council not to be influenced by petty paltry considerations. If this reocm- mendation was passed he would want to ask the chairman of the Finance Committee how much he was going to reduce the rate by. In order to meet those who looked at this as a money question, and those who viewed it as a social question, he moved the following amendment: "That two of the present elementary s,?hook- i.e., one department for girls and one department for boys, be selected, and a. curriculum arranged aa for a higher elementary school until such time as the Education Committee make the necessary arrangements and. provide suitable scliools for secondary education in the city; that such fees be charged at these higher elementary schools as may be determined by the Education Com- mittee, but subject to the managers of such schools agreeing to wa've their right to the re- turn to them of a proportion of the fees as pro- vided by Sect-ion 14 of the Education Act, 1902." Mr. John Williamson seconded the amendment. Mr. A. W. Butt said a number of noble senti- mentj had been given them by Mr. Lanceiey, and he was sure they would all join in applaud- ing them. But" many of them were wide of the issue before them. The point they had to con- sider was whether certain schools in Chester should still have the opportunity of charging fees. His contention was that if the fee-paying schools were free many children would leave them and go to a private school. Mr. Lancelev Question Mr. Butt: There is no question about it. Mr. La.noeley: All right; I think there is. Mr. Butt: I visited one cf these schools this morning, and I found that already some of the children had been taken away in anticipation of what was going to happen, and have been put in private schools. Mr. Lanceley: And some have gone to the City and County School. Mr. Butt, proceeding, said the great majority of children left school as soon as their age per- mitted. According to the last- returns there were 104 children above tho age of 14 in the elemen- tarv sohocls of Chester. Of those 84 were in the three schools that had been mentioned. Mr. Lanceley spoke of hardship. He could not see where the hardship came in, as the parents were willing and anxious to pay fees that they might have their children educated in those particular schools. He contended there was a strong de- mand for such schools as those, and that the people who demanded them had a right to be considered. If they freed all the schools they would not only lose the amount of the fees, which represented a halfpenny rate, but the grant of E2 per head upon those A-ildrc-n who would un- dtoubtedly leave and go to private sohools. Who deiranded the abolition of the fees? The parents? No. Mr. Lanceley: Yes. Mr. Butt: The more respectable are willing and amxious to pay in order that some schools shall maintain a distinctive character. Pro- ceeding, Mr. Butt said he had had the opportu- nity of consulting a good many ratepayers a few months ago, and on eve.ry hand he received com- plaints about the rates. He then promised he would do his very best to reduce the rates, and here was an opportunity of reducing them by a halfpenny m the £ without costing the rate- payers anything. He therefore hoped the Council would1 adopt the recommendation of the com- mittee. Dr. Stoiterfoth said he strongly held the opinion that fees should be abolished altogether in elementary schools. The tendency of the times was to make elementary education free. They had made elementary education compul- sory, and the only logical conclusion was that it must be free. He. supported the amendment. Mr. W. Carr, who also supported the amend- ment, said that while only one artizan in the city (practically speaking) had spoken to him in favour of the retention of fees in the sohools, the great bulk of them had spoken, against the great injustice of haviag had to pay fees so long. They were entitled by law to free education. The small am-cunt that would be saved to the rate- payers was scarcely worth consideration when they oomnderoo the great number of ratepayers who would have to pay for education through the rates and by the payment of school fees. Mr. W. Vernon was strongly in favour of free- ing the schools. Alderman Churton saiid he took some active part in the Education Committee when the original resolution was passed. The question that then arose was that if there was to be an abolition of the fees they oug-ht all to be abolished, and that it would not be right to allow certain j schools to charge fees and deprive others of doing so. It was therefore thought reasonable to allow the Education Committee to give a reasonable time to consider t'he whole question, and eventually it was decided that the matter should stand over till this year. He was sorry Mr. Lanceloy had introduced the clerical matter. What had that to do with fees? There wero practically three schools which thought, rightly or wrongly, that their education was of a some- what better character than the education given at the other elementary schools and they there- fore thought they had a right to charge fees. He was still of the opinion that if there was to be a difference between elementary schools a diffi- culty would be created. Elementary schools ought all to bp on one level, but if there was a want for a school of a particular character—and Mr. Lanceley by his amendment seemed to sug- gest that. there was—it ought to be classed in a way somewhat different from an elementary school. So long as parents were willing to, pay for a superior education for their children, why should they not have the privilege cf getting it? It. had been pointed out to him that it would be a great hardship upon the managers of the three school concerned if they were deprived of the privilege of charging fees. With regard to the other elementary schools, the education was prac- tically free. Mr. Lanoeley's arguments were very good in their way, but they had to consider, human nature, and after all the payment of fees did not do the parents or the children any harm. The ordinary elementary schools would no doubt have to be free, but it would be desirable in the interests of peace to pass the resoluticn with- out in any way giving themselves away on the principle of free education. Alderman H. T. Brown reminded the Conned that they found the system existing when they oecanrø the education authority, and had de- cided: to continue that system for a time to give the Education Committee an opportunity of de- vising' something to stand in place of these schools when they were freed. That time had expired, and the committee asked that the time should be extended to enable the oommittee to do what they had hoped to do before this. It was the intention to do something to meet the needs hitherto met by these schools. In what direction that would be he could not yet say. Mr. John Griffiths rose amid cries of "Vote, Yoto: He said Mr. Lanceley had said that those w ho -supported the recommendation were lacking- in sincerity. Mr. Lanceley (interrupting) I said "promoters," and must ask Mr. Griffiths to withdraw that. I Mr. Griffiths said TTe did not quite appreciate the fineness of the distinction. The fact that he (Mr. Griffiths) was one of the managers of one of thje schools mostly referred to did not weigh with him in the- slightest degree, because the particular schools were condemned. There was a at deal to be said: from Mr. Lanoeley's stand- point as to the return of fees. It was somewhat unfair to place the managers of these schools in a better position than the managers of other I schools, because whether a better education was being given at those schools or not did not aflrect it, as they remained purely elementary schools. It had been said that what the State made com- pulsory the State should also make free, but surely an answer was that in Chester there wera a sufficient number of free places supplied for the chilren of parents who desired ireo places. Mr. Lanceley questioned the means of gaming the opinion of the parents. Surely the mere fact remained that parents sent their children and paid fees proved that parents were willing to pay fees. If they were supplying the children who wanted free education with the same educa- tion given to the other children whose parents desired to pay, ho did not see that any charge could be brought against them of making differ- ences and class distinction. Mr. Siddall asked if it was not a fact that (1) at St. John-stroet Sohool more scholarships had been obtained at the King's School than from any other elementary school in the city, and (2) that from Hunter-street Girls' School girls had been presented for the local Cambridge examina- tions and had passed this examination? He. thought the latter was a unique distinction among the elementary schools of the city. He hoped these and the other schools for the time that was asked would be permitted to charge fees. Air. Williamson moved that the names of those who took part in the voting should be taken. There were signs of dissent at this. The Town Clerk explained that the law was that it was not open for any member to have the names taken unless he had the support- of a full majority of the members present. The names were not taken, and on a division the amendment was defeated by 18 votes to 15. Mr. John Griffiths then moved as another amendment That such of the public elementary schools in the city as at present charged fees should bo allowed to continue to do so until such time as a fee-charging higher elementary school is provided, it being an instruction to the Educa- tion Committee to take into consideration the early provision of such a school, or until the 31st March, 1907, which event first happens." Mr. Vernon seconded.—The amendment was defeated by 18 votes to 12. Mr. Ferguson next moved, and Mr. Carr seconded, that the date be altered from 1907 to 1906. This amendment was defeated by 18 votes to 12, and finally the original resolution was carried by 20 votes to 11. SCHOOL CHILDREN AT CHURCH. I ALLEGED BREACH OF THE RULES. I Mr. John bntilths submitted the following questions:—(a) Whether any, and if so what, in- structions have been issued or representations made by the Education Committee to the managers of schools respecting the taking of teachers and children from school to church in school hours; (b) whether the school time- tables are submitted to the committee for ap- proval, and if so, whether any school time-table has been approved which provided, or rendered it possible, for the teachers and children being taken from the same school to church on two mornings of last week (March 13 to 17); (c) whether it is within the knowledge of the Director of Education that the teachers and children of one school were, in fact, marched from school to church on the mornings of Wed- nesday and Friday of last week, and, if so, j whether such procedure was in accord with an approved time-table, and if not, will the matter be reported by him to the Education Committee? The Town Clerk said instructions had been given to the correspondents of public schools that (1) reasonable facilities be given for religious instruction; (2) copies of school time-tables be submitted to the committee for their approval be f or before the end of February in each year; (3) cases of deviation upon special occasions from ordinary routine be duly noted upon such time-tables, and be considered by the Elementary Sub-Committee; i4) the managers of schools have their attention drawn to Circular 512 of the Board of Education, a copy of which has been sent to every corre- spondent in the city by the Board, and be in formed that the committee desire that all re- ligious instruction, as mentioned in the school time-tables, shall take place within the school buildings, i.e., that) tho place of religious in- struction shall be the same as the place for secular instruction, except in the latter case as modified by regulations of the Board of Educa- tion and noted in Circular 512; (5) that attendance at church or chapel for religious instruction is prohibited, except where it is not entirely volun- tary, but also during hours not included in the school time-table., i.e., where it is no part of "school instruction" at all. The Town Clerk continued that Mr. Griffiths would see in answer to "b" that copies of school time tables for the ensuing year, commencing April 1st, had in every case been submitted to the committee. Everyone had been found to be in accordance with the above circular. A number had not yet been signed, however, by the Director of Education on behalf of the local authority. They awaited revision in other respects. Before the issue of the Board's Circular 512, time-tables were sometimes sanctioned on behalf of the Board of Education authorising the practice of attending church during the time set apart for religious in- formation, the parents, however, having the right in all cases to withdraw their children from such attendance at church, or from religious instruc- tion itself. No such time-tables would now be sanctioned by the Board of Education, and it would appear that the issue of the committee's letter of January 7th last, following upon the Board of Education Circular 512, should have pre- vented at any subsequent date the occurrence of such an incident as that mentioned in the ques- tion. With regard to (c) the circumstances were known to the Board of Education. The pro- cedure would appear to be in accordance with the following note upon the school time-table, signed by H.M.I, on behalf of the Board of Education, before the issue of Circular 512 and the com- mittee's letter of January 7th last:—"On saints' days and holy days the children will attend church instead of having the Scripture lesson." Of course, this would be understood as not inter- fering with the rights of parents to witdraw their children, and the above clause should not be held to cover such procedure since January last. Reports would be made to the Elementary Education Sub-Committee on the matter. THE QUESTION OF SCHOOL FEES. I Mr. Lanoeley asked if it would be in order to I move that the estimates be reduced by gd. now that the resolution on school fees had been passed. The Town Clerk said the estimates and pre- cepts could not. be altered now. If the figures worked out as expected there would be JB400 to bo added to the surplus of the borough fund at the end of the year, making it £ 2,200 instead of £ 1.800. CONTEMPLATED IMPROVEMENTS. On the proposition of Alderman John Jones (S.O.), seconded by Mr. John M. Frost, the Im- provement Committee were authorised to have the'following new works carried out during the next financial year:—Hough Green, kcrbing chan- nelling, and completing roadway, and part flagging from near West Hay to near Wesleyan Chapel, £ 448; Francis-street, continuation of present sett paving to near Crewe-street, £ 400; Brook-place, sett paving, £ 135. 4s. total, £983 4: I ADVERTISING CHESTER. Mr. Egerton Gilbert moved :—"That the Special Committee (Advertising) be authorised to expend a sum not exceeding- jolOU out of the balance of the income derived from the boating licences, in advertising the attractions of the city, including those of the river Dee." Mr. H. Dodd seconded. Mr. W. H. Denson pointed out that the Adver- tising Committee had further considered the advisability of taking steps to form in the autumn an advertising bureau controlled by a joint com- mittee of traders, hotel proprietors, and others, upon which the Corporation would be repre- sented, and that the Council should decide to make a grant for advertising, a like or larger sum should be provided by voluntary subscription3 from persons interested. He explained that the Traders' Association were willing to take the matter up, and to get subscribers. The resolution was carried. I TO HONOUR VOLUNTEERS. Owing to the lateness of the hour, the follow- ing motion, standing in the name of Mr. William- son. was -,vibhlield: That this Council appoint a committee to consider the desirability of record- ing the names of the members of the Chester ing t l of the of the Chest.(-r Volunteer Regiments who served with the Im- perial forces in the South African campaign."

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