Second report of the Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire into the endowed schools and hospitals (Scotland) : with evidence and appendix / [chairman, Sir Edward Colebrooke].

  • Scotland. Endowed Schools Commission.
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Second report of the Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire into the endowed schools and hospitals (Scotland) : with evidence and appendix / [chairman, Sir Edward Colebrooke]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    24/716 (page 10)
    Rev. Dr. has been before us for rather more than five years. It was first brought Stuart^ before us by the report of the assistant Commissioners on Education in Grace, Esq. the year 1868. They suggested that the trust was rather too small and narrow. We accepted the idea, and have been taking steps ever since towards having it enlarged. 5944. Of the existing trustees some are ex officio ?—All of them are cx officio. The trustees are the Provost of the city, the two ministers of the parish of St. Andrews, which is a collegiate charge, and the Sheriff of the connty of Fife. 5945. Do some of them give very limited attendance? — Certainly not. The Provost and the two ministers of the parish are always there, and the Sheriff, it is only fair to say, has never failed to come whenever he was wanted. For little details there is no use in bringing him over; but in regard to any important question, the late Sheriff (now Lord Mackenzie) and the present Sheriff, Mr. Crichton, have never failed to come. 6946. The Lord Justice-Clerk holds office ?—The Lord Justice-Clerk, the Lord-Lieutenant of Fifeshire, and the Bishop of the Episcopal com- munion in Edinburgh, are not trustees, but are visitors. 5947. How often are the trustees required to attend for the purpose of business ?—We meet whenever it is necessary ; sometimes not for two or three weeks together. 5948. There are constantly questions arising which require the super- vision of the trustees ?—The trustees endeavour, so far as they can, to fulfil the part of a head master. There is no head master, and questions occasionally arise which require meetings of the trustees. There are also meetings with regard to the business of the trust. The endowment is to a great extent invested in land, and we are obliged to meet in reference to matters in connection with that—tenants wanting reduction of rent, repairs, and things of that kind. 5949. Will you state what propositions you have made with a view to the extension of the trust ?—I shall perhaps do that better than I could otherwise by reading what we sent to you, shortly sketching out the object we had in view. ' For several years past, the trustees have had under consideration the extension of the governing body. The assistant Commissioners, who reported on the College in 1868, recommended an increase in the number of the trustees, by the addition of professors of tlie University. And it has been suggested as desu'able that the community should be represented in the trust. The trustees, after much consideration, have concluded in favour of an addition of six to their number,—three from the University, and three elected by the ratepayers, or Town Council, or School Board. The advantages of closer relations with the University are manifest. And the trustees are disposed to agree to the introduction of what may be called a popular element. They made application to extend the trust, in some such sense, under The Endowed Institutions (Scotland) Act of 1869, but were stopped by the law officers of the Crown, who held that the case did not fall within that Act. And last year (1872) they sought to have the trust extended by a clause in the Scotch Education Act, but were told by the Lord Advocate that they must wait for a future bill which he intends to introduce, under which the end desired may be attained. So things stand at present. Whenever it becomes possible, the trustees will take steps to have their body thus increased and strengthened.' 5960. Did you ever take any advice whether you could alter the trust by application to the Court of Session ?—I do not think we ever did that, but we took advice as to whether we could alter the trust under ' The