IRISH UNIVERSITY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 162, 2 April 1908, Page 7

IRISH UNIVERSITY.

MR. BIRRELI'S PUN. A CHORUS OF APPROVAL. TRINITY COLLEGE TO STAND ALONE. BY TELEGttArn —PKESS ASSOCIATION —COrTMOHT. ' (Rec. April 1, 11.2G p.m.) London, April 1. In tho Houso of Commons leave was givon to introduce Mr. Birrell's Irish University Bill by 307 votes to 24. It was read a first timo amid loud cheers. Tho Bill proposes to creato by Royal Charter two new' universities, one at Dublin, the other at Belfast. Tho Dublin University will comprise three colleges—tho reconstituted Queen's Colleges at Cork and Galway, and tlio New College, Dublin. Tho Belfast University will consist of one collego only. There 'will be no religious tests for professors or students, though Mr. Birrell thinks that tho first president of the new Dublin College ought to be' a Roman Catholic layman. Tho sum of £20,000 a year from the Irish Church Fund now allocated to the Royal University will be''divided equally between the two new universities, which willreceive £80,000 from tho Exchequer instead ,of the £36,500 at present granted for Irish University education. Apart from tho Church Fund, Belfast University will receive an annual endowment of £19,000, the new Dublin ' College £32,000, Queen's College (Cork) £18,000, and Queen's Collego (Galway) £12,000. As building, grants Belfast will recoivo £60,000 and Dublin. £150,000. Mr. Birrell affirmed that the'new universities would be. undenominational, . though Dublin might have a Roman Catholic and Belfast a Presbyterian complexion. Messrs.'Balfour, Dillon,-O'Brien, Butcher, "Wyndham, and Sir E. Carson expressed general satisfaction with the scheme, and applauded tho spirit in which. Mr. Birrell. had approached the problem. Mr. Balfour declared-that; broadly speaking, no better plan could be, devised;. Tho Government. wero wise in leaving Trinity Collego ' alone. I Hq questioned the prudence of handing over tho; whole; of- the tutorial patroiiago to tho; Senates. ' . ' "Tho Times" says that if Mr. Birrell carries his. scheme, lie will desorvo well ,of Ireland. Though Mr. Dillon states that the scheme is acceptable to tho Roman Catholics, it will bo well to await the' opinion of the. Irish Bishops.