§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON (Shropshire, Oswestry)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether it is true that, on the 28th of April last, the Board School 1462 of Verwick, in County of Cardigan, was closed all day, there being distresses for arrears of tithe rent-charge levied at Heollas-Fawr and Hafod; whether, in consequence of the whole holiday being given to the children, they were enabled to take part, and did take part, in the riotous and unlawful proceedings by which the authorities were prevented from levying the distresses; and what action the Educational Department propose to take?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir W. HART DYKE,) Kent, DartfordThe facts are, I believe, in the main as stated by my hon. Friend, though the occasion for closing the school was not the levy of a distress, but a public sale of distraints previously levied, and the sale was, I am informed, brought to a successful conclusion. The account of what occurred, which has been furnished by the School Board, is not altogether consistent with the information received from other sources, but there can be no doubt that in closing the school the Board made an unwise use of their powers, and one of which the Education Department cannot avoid expressing its disapproval. An intimation to this effect will be conveyed to the Board.
§ MR. W. BOWEN ROWLANDS (Cardiganshire)May I ask whether the course adopted by the Board on this occasion was not adopted after consultation with, and under the orders of, the Chairman of the School Board, who is himself a Conservative and a member of the Primrose League, and also with the approbation of the clergyman who levied the distress; whether it is not the fact that the majority of the children are under 13 years of age, and precluded, by their age, from taking part in riotous or unlawful proceedings, and whether the sales were not effected, realising in one case the full amount with costs, and in the other the full value of the distraint?
§ SIR W. HART DYKEI have read the declaration of the Bailiff, and if there is any truth in it some of the children were guilty of very riotous conduct. With regard to the question as to the Chairman, I do not think that that is an element which ought to enter into a matter of this nature; the question is whether the School Board were right or wrong.