§ MR. J. G. TALBOTasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether there is any compulsion upon School Attendance Committees to appoint Local Committees in each parish; and, whether the Education Department have given any instructions as to the composition of such Committees?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONSir, School Attendance Committees are not obliged to appoint local committees in each parish; but I have no hesitation in saying that, as far as my own opinion goes, it is very desirable that local committees should be appointed generally in each parish, or for a small group of contiguous parishes, to assist the School Attendance Committees by their local knowledge and their local influence. I am also of opinion that it is desirable that these local committees should represent the various classes in the place; and I venture to suggest that not only employers of labour and leading people in the locality, who take an interest in education, should be placed upon them, but that, where circumstances permit, and suitable men are available, members of the labouring classes should, also be chosen for these local committees, so as to enlist their cooperation in a matter in which they are primarily interested, and to obtain their assistance in working the law, by making them share the responsibility of its administration.