The result of the London School Board elections is on
the whole, we think, satisfactory. It has given a majority to the Chairman, Mr. Diggle, and the policy of economy; but it has diminished the majority for that policy, and so far strengthened the minority, that if Mr. Diggle is as shrewd as we take him to be, he will find it necessary to yield enough to the more moderate friends of educational progress, to satisfy them that there is no intention of letting the accommodation for the children of London fall behind the constantly increasing demand. Economy is a very good policy, but it certainly should not be pushed to the point of keeping children un- educated in order to save the ratepayers' pockets, and it is in that direction, if at all, that the policy of the late Board was defective. In Mr. A. Hutson, who is an independent member for the City, the School Board has obtained a very fair-minded and independent man, who is quite certain not to lend him- self to any extremes; and we hope that Mr. Raphael, who is a new member for Marylebone, will also strengthen the sensible independents who will hold the balance between the two parties. We regret to see Mr. Conybeare's re- turn for Finsbury, though he is at the bottom of the poll. Mr. Conybeare will not strengthen the businesslike and temperate judgment on any Board. Mr. Whiteley, who heads the poll for East Lambeth, on the other hand, is a thoroughly temperate and wise member of the opposition, and we should expect from him the use of a kind of influence which will enlarge and modify the policy of the last School Board without overthrowing it. It is said that the economical policy can count upon 27 or 28 steady supporters, and the opposition on some 24 or 23 votes, while there are three or four thoroughly independent members, who may vote with either side according to the wisdom and conciliatory character of the line taken. If that be so, that is a not unsatisfactory result.
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