17.246.  You  do  not  wish  to  see  any  change  in  the  authority  for  educa-
tion in  Wigan,  theuP — Speaking  personally,  1  should  like  to  see  the
schools  put  under  what  is  known  as  popular  oontrol ;  bat  X  feel  sure  at
the  same  time  that  1  should  not  be  expressing  the  views  of  the  majority
of  the  wage  earners  in  that  view.
17.247.  You  mean  that  you  would  like  to  see  them  all  school  boani
schools  ? — Yes,  personally.
17.248.  Or  a  sufficient  nmnber  of  school  board  schools  P — Yes.
17.249.  (Dean  of  Manchester.)  Since  the  begimiing  of  tho  sohool  boanf
system  in  Wigan,  have  you  had  a  majority  always  on  the  school  board  for
tilings  as  they  are  P—Yes,  we  have  only  had,  I  believe,  two  elections  since
the  formation  of  the  school  board.
17,260.  You  mean  to  Bay- that  there  has  been  no  contest? — Yes.
17.251.  (Mr.  Ooekbwm.)  What  is  the  population  of  Wigan? — At  tbA
present  time  it  is  about  58,000.
17.252.  Then  you  are  just  a  county  borough  P — Yes.
17.253.  Do  you  know  how  many  children  there  are  in  the  elementary
schools  in  Wigan  P — No,  I  do  not  know  the  number.
17.254.  (Chair tnan  )  Do  you  wish  to  put  before  us  any  views  with  reg»rd
to  inspection  and  examination  of  schools  P — 1  have  no  change  to  suggest
in  that  respect.  1  think  that  inspection  nnd  examination  should  be  con-
tinued. There  should  be  plenty  of  inspection,  nnd  the  examination,!
think,  would  have  to  be  not  of  a  sampling  character  but  rather  of  an
individual  test.
17.255.  You  prefer  the  old  system  to  the  now  P — ^Yes.
