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With reference to the term "ratepayers," see notes on secs. 3 and 29 of the 33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, ante; and, as to disqualifications for voting, sec. 91 of the 33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, ante.

As regards the rate-book, which, as stated above, is the register of voters in the election of a school board for a parish, it is to be observed that the Ballot Act, by Rule 24, provides as follows:-" Immediately before a ballot paper is delivered to an elector, it shall be marked on both sides with the official mark, either stamped or perforated, and the number, name, and description of the elector as stated in the copy of the register, shall be called out, and the number of such elector shall be marked on the counterfoil, and a mark shall be placed in the register against the number of the elector, to denote that he has received a ballot paper, but without showing the particular ballot paper which he has received." From this provision it will be observed that it is necessary that the name of each person entitled to vote shall be separately numbered in the "copy of the register," so that the number of the voter may be marked on the counterfoil of the ballot paper, and that a mark may be placed in the register against the number of the elector when a ballot paper has been received by him. Unless each voter has a separate number, it will be impossible to identify the votes in the event of a scrutiny, and the detection of the personation of voters will be extremely difficult. In most rate-books, however, it will be found that the numbering is insufficient for this purpose. For instance, when the owner is rated under an order of vestry instead of the occupier under the Poor Rate Assessment and Collection Act, 1869, it is considered that both the owner and the occupier are entitled to vote, yet the names of both the owner and the occupier will appear in the rate-book under one number. Indeed, it is the usual practice to bring together in the rate-book, and to enter under one number, all the hereditaments in respect of which the owner is thus rated instead of the occupier; and consequently it frequently occurs that a large number of occupiers appear under the same number. The provision above referred to seems, therefore, to render it necessary that there should be either an entire re-numbering of the names of the persons entitled to vote, or that a system should be adopted of distinguishing-say by letters of the alphabet, the number of the assessment being repeated-the several voters whose names appear in the rate-book under one number. It is also to be borne in mind that the presiding officer at each station is required after the close of the poll to make up into a sealed packet, sealed with his own seal, the marked copy of the register of voters and the counterfoils of the ballot papers. This packet is not even to be opened by the returning officer, except under the directions of the Education Department, and at the expiration of six months is to be destroyed, unless the Education Department otherwise order. As it is obvious that the rate-book cannot be disposed of in this manner, it is necessary that a copy of the rate and not the rate itself should be used for the purpose of the poll.

The Education Department, in their circular of the 17th June, 1886, with regard to the charges in respect of school board elections, state as follows:-"If the rate-book requires to be copied and arranged alphabetically, the expense will be calculated upon the principle that not less than thirty names of voters can be arranged and written in an hour, and the returning officer will be allowed to charge at the rate of one halfpenny for each name. Unless the leave of the Education Department has been previously and specially obtained, no expenses for making an alphabetical list of the rate-book will be allowed in any case in which there has been

no poll. It is considered that the six clear days allowed by the order for election give sufficient time to enable the returning officer to prepare such list."

As to disqualifications for voting, see sec. 29 of the 33 & 34 Vict., C. 75, note 1, ante.

(2.) Elections to fill casual vacancies in the metropolis and elsewhere shall be held only on the day in the year appointed or prescribed for the election of members, unless the Education Department order an election to be held on some other day, in pursuance of the rule numbered sixteen in the first part of the second schedule to the principal Act. "Casual vacancies may now be filled up by the school board (see 39 & 40 Vict., c. 79, sec. 44, post, and Schedule 3 to that Act).

(3.) An order made in pursuance of this schedule shall, save as otherwise provided by such order, apply to all school boards.

THIRD SCHEDULE.

Proceedings of School Board.

The following regulations shall be construed as part of the conditions mentioned in rule one in the third Schedule to the principal Act; that is to say,

(b.) Not less than one ordinary meeting shall be held in each month, but where the board ordinarily meet more than once in every month, they may, by resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting on the question, resolve not to have an ordinary meeting in the months of August and September, or one of such months. One meeting shall be held as soon as possible after every triennial election of members :

It rests with the school board to decide whether or not the public shall be admitted to their meetings. Several boards have refused to allow the public to be present, and a few have prohibited reporters from attending.

f.) The names of the members present, and in the case of a division the names of those voting upon each question, shall be recorded:

This substituted provision removes the doubt which has existed as to whether it was necessary to record the names of the members voting on a motion when the motion was carried unanimously. The Law Officers of the Crown (Sir R. P. Collier and Sir J. D. Coleridge) took different views on this point. It will be observed that it is now only necessary to record the names of the members present and of those voting in the case of a division.

The Law Officers referred to and Mr. Archibald advised that, as the names of those voting are to be recorded, a vote by ballot is not allowable for any purpose

(g) No business involving the appointment or dismissal

of a teacher, any new expense, or any payment (except the ordinary periodical payments), or any business which under this Act requires the consent of the Education Department, shall be transacted unless notice in writing of such business has been. sent to every member four days at least before the meeting.

FOURTH SCHEDULE.

Act repealed.

A description or citation of a portion of an Act is inclusive of the words, section, or other part first or last mentioned, or otherwise referred to as forming the beginning or as forming the end of the portion comprised in the description or citation.

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Extent of Repeal.

The sub-section numbered ten in section thirty-seven; section fifty-seven; section fifty-nine; the sub-section numbered nine in section sixty; sections eighty and eighty-nine; section ninety, from "knowingly personate" to "voting in any such election or;" the rules numbered one and three in the first part of the second schedule; so much of the rule numbered six in the third part of the second schedule as relates to fixing a day for a casual election, and the conditions in rule one of the third schedule marked (b.) (f.) and (g.).

WENLOCK ELEMENTARY EDUCATION ACT

(37 & 38 VICT., C. 39.)

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXCEPTION OF THE BOROUGH OF WENLOCK FROM THE CATEGORY OF BOROUGHS UNDER THE ELEMENTARY EDUCATION ACT, 1870."

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[30th July, 1874-]

BE it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Wenlock not to be deemed à Borough, &c.

I. That for the purposes of the "Elementary Education Act, 1870," the municipal borough of Wenlock shall not be deemed to be a borough, and the elections of school boards within the said borough shall take place and be conducted in the manner and under the Regulations in such Act provided for a parish.

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