Community Meetings weren’t (and sometimes still aren’t) the rosy warm ideals people think them to be. Quite often in previous decades, especially in matters of running business before local councils were properly established, the eminent men of towns and villages could often clash in personalities. This could lead to fractious, frustrating meetings and even attack on one’s character.
There’s a great example of this in the School Board meetings of 1892, where clearly Mr Small and Mr Douglas never saw eye to eye very much. These men often had to reel in their behaviour and comments more so if the local newspaper reporters were transcribing every word of the exchanges! One particular meeting in September 1892 had Mr Small at short notice, changing the agenda to introduce a parent of a pupil who had been absent from school. Mr Douglas, taken aback by the alteration to the planned meeting and knowing the parent hadn’t been invited into their ‘rooms’, was clearly not happy. Mr Douglas explained that the parent should not be permitted. This wasn’t a courtroom.
Mr Small—They would only laugh at you in Court if it was explained that the defaulter had come forward.
Mr Douglas—Well, if you bring her in I will go out. Go on with the business. I have something else to do than sit here all night listening to a lot of silly nonsense.
Several members held that the Board were just dealing with the defaulting business, but Mr Douglas averred the defaulter in question should have been presented to the agenda ahead of the meeting, and held the Board would be much at fault if this kind of thing was allowed to go on.
Mr Small, referring to Mr Douglas, and pointing, asked the Chairman if this man was a member of the School Board or an “animal.”
Mr Douglas—If you make that statement again, sir, I will take steps to make you stop such talk.
Mr Small—Act like a man, then.
Mr Douglas—There is not the iota of a man in you at any rate!
It was finally agreed by four votes to two that the defaulter be received only after the ordinary business of the Board was over. (and probably just to calm the situation down!).
