THE EDUCATION BILL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12477, 12 April 1906, Page 8

THE EDUCATION BILL.

MANY AMENDMENTS FORESHADOWED.

DIVERSE OPINIONS

United Press Association— Br Electric Telegraph—CopyrigEU LONDON, April 10. Many amendments are expected to be prepot-ed when the Education Act Amendment Bill comes on for its second reading after Easter. The Nonconformists fear that the four-fifths clause will bo utilised largely to perpetuate denominational teaching. The Opposition will propose that a loner proportion than four-fifths be made. Mr Rameay Mac Donald hae given notice of an amendment providing for the teaching of secular bubjects only within school hours at the expense ot the public funds. Anglican churchmen denounco the Bill α-i an unjust curtailment of religious instruction, and a disregard of parental righte.

A meeting of South London Roman Catholics expressed profound astonishment and indignation at the Bill.

Mr C. F. Masterman, member for West Ham, says that the Bill will rekindle religious fires.

The- Rev. Dr. Clifford expresses gratification with tho measure, but .vays that he is not satisfied with the four-fifths clause.

Archdeacon Sinclair and the Archbishop of York, in a letter to the newspapers, make the 'beet of the Bill.

"Tho Times" says tho measure requires radical amendment. The "Daily Newe" 6tates that if Churchmen refuse to compromise they will bo given no second choice.

The " Westminster Gazette" &ays that Liberal members of the Houso of Commons generally approvo of the Bill.

The " Manchester Guardian" declares that it is a thorough and tolerant measure.

The " Scotsman" says the measure ought to be entitled a " Bill for the State Endowment of Nonconformity."

Mr W. T. Stead thinks that the fourfifths clause ought to meet the needs of the Roman Catholics and Jews, but it will probably go hard with the Anglicans

[The "four-fifths clause," which has evoked so much criticism, is as follows :—The authorities in urban areas are empowered in the case of a transferred voluntary school to permit the ordinary teachers at a denomination's expense to give special religious instruction daily, if the parents of fourfifths of the children attending the school desire it, and if there ie accommodation in other class schools of tho district for children whose parents do not desire such denominational instruction.]