IRISH UNIVERSITY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 197, 14 May 1908, Page 7

IRISH UNIVERSITY.

LIBERAL VICTORY. Js SEGREGATION AND STATE AID. SECOND READING. HI TELEGRAPH—PItESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT London, May 12. In tho House of. Commons, Mr. A. E. Hutton, Liberal member for the Morlcy division of Yorkshire, moved sin amendment to Mr. Birrell's Irish Universities Bill, to the offeet that it be rejected on account of its denominational basis. Mr. John Redmond, Leader of the Nationalists, Sir Edward Carson "(who was Solicitor-General in Mr. Balfour's Government, and who represents Dublin University), and Mr. Birrell (Secretary for Ireland) spoko in support' of the Bill. Mr. Win. Mooro, Unionist member for North Armagh (formerly private secretary to Mr. Wyndham, a position which he'resigned when' the latter supported Devolution) ; taunted Mr. Lloyd-George and other 'Liberal leaders with being . false to the pledges, • given .by 7 thorn to Nonconformist electors, that 'they would not' support State aid for denominational education. ' Mr. Hutton's amendmont was defeated by 352' votes to 38.. ' The Bill'was read a second time by 344 ■votes to 31. THE BIRRELL AND BRYCE BILLS.

MR.' MOORE'S OBJECTION. , Mr. BirrcH's Irish ' Universities Bill leaves Trinity College untouched, thus avoiding a great poiilt of objection to the last Liberal Bill. Mr. Birrell proposes to sot up two new universities, one in Dublin and the other in Belfast; which are to be free from religious tests, to haye no endowed theological teaching, and to. be.'governed by senates academically olected. The details of the Bill aro conveniently given in tho following summary from tho "Daily Mail." NO MONEY FOR DENOMINATIONAL TEACHING. Tlio Bill will institute two new universities, one at Roman Catholic Dublin and one at 'Protestant Belfast. . ' •'•-.••■ ■ The Dublin university is to include a new college at and the existing colleges at Cork and Galway. The Belfast university is to be Queen's College, Belfast.. .- There will'be no religious,tests at either institution. ' ' • . The ■ lloyal University of Ireland, an examining' body, is abolished. . Tho universities: will be ruled by senates. The Dublin mainly Roman Catholics, will consist. of.'thirty-six ■■members, of whom' seven must be Protestants; and tho Belfast Senate .(I'rotestaut) must include one Roman Catholic. ' The present revenue of the colleges, will be increased to .£BO,OOO from Imperial funds, but no money,will go to denominational teaching. ' A now college in Dublin will be erected, and a ; .maximum grant of .£150,000 m ado for it' from, the Exchequor.. r.v,- .- , CRITICISMS.

•'.Referring .to the first reading, debate, the "Manchester Guardian" says:—"Mr.,; Dillon and Mr; O'Brien welcomed tho Bill on behalf of ' the ■ Catholics. ' The one criticism Mr. Dillon mado was, that tho endowment and 4ho building pant might have. been, larger, but he is. hardly justified, in cavilling at: an endow-, ment ;by 'the/ State'to university, education of •a munificence; quite,without parallel in recent English history at least. Mr. Balfour said that 'he did not believe a bettor plan could-be devised,' and Mr. Butcher,, 1 as .'a distinguished scholar and a Unionist, gave it a hearty welcome. Mr. Moore, however, in the name of the Ulstor Unionists, condemned the Bill as an endowmont of ..Catholic, education in no way ' compensated by "an endowment 'of Presbyterian education, not demanded 1 in, Ulster.- Tho plain fact: of the case is that ' the- Imperial •Parliament cannot impose upon . Ireland a\ workablo'scheme, unless that' scbonie gives the ■kind i-- of •'guarantees ' to .the . Catholic Church provided by Mr. .Birrell; whether an Irish Parliament would deal with the question 'in: any other fashion i 3 an interesting question which , Mr.. Moore and'his, friends will'not permit to be put to 'lie test. We may take it that a scheme .which commends itself to tho leader nf the- Opposition as well'as to the Government .'is assured 'of a.fairly happy passage through both.Houses, and will, emergo safely, . though. modified, perhaps, in detail."' :• / i... . - , . '; v : ■ MR.. BRYCE'S AIM '

' ."Nevertheless." the "Guardian"■ .goes on to, say,. "one may- • indulge in! some'.regrets: The Bill may confer great benefits on Ireland, but-does it represent the'highest ideal for the inational life of Ireland?. Does not Mr. Bryce's abortive Bill perhaps represent, a higher ? Mr. Bryce's aim w#s : the lofty' one of making all creeds ; and -all.,sections of. Irishmen partners in a, common .university,, drinking in , the same ideas, and acquiring 'in the emulation of common. studies, commonv sports,, and common academic interests the spirit of toleration it, may be,, the desire for unity and cooperation in the work of national regeneration. Mr. Birrell's/scheme segregates Catholics, Anglicans, and Presbyterians; it offers the prospect of adequate and offieient university teaching, but it would be venturesome to. see in it as powerful an instrument' for the destruction of old prejudices and the filling of old gulfs. It is much easier to pass and it will be 'much simpler to work, but it can never stand for so much in Irish national life as the unifying splieme which it has superseded.''