LONDON EDUCATION BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12282, 28 May 1903, Page 5

LONDON EDUCATION BILL.

MR. BALFOUR GIVES WAY.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. London, May 26. In the course of a statement on the London Education Bill Mr. Balfour, the Premier, admitted that the great body of the House of Commons and a majority of the metropolitan members regarded the representation of the borough councils on the Central Education Committee with aversion. Therefore clause 2 of the Bill would be abandoned, leaving the London County Council in the same position with regard to the formation of an education committee as other county councils. The Unionist press severely condemn the Government's vacillation over the Bill. (Received May 23, 12.52 a.m.) London, May 27. In the House of Commons the London Education Bill passed through committee. The Government accepted amendments greatly minimising the powers and .responsibilities of boroughs in connection with the management of elementary schools. The Standard says the Government has virtually withdrawn their Bill in favour of one drafted by the Opposition and dissentient Unionists.

The existing London School Board consists of 55 members, and lirs under its educational care over half-a-uiillion children of school age. and annually expends the revenue of a small kingdom—about three and a-quarter millions—in building, eqnipning, and maintaining the schools. The actual work of administration is carried on by seven standing committees and about 30 sub-committees, assisted by some 2000 local school managers. But enormous as the present work of the Board is, it represents little more than half of the responsibilities which will rest upon th« new authority. There are no fewer than -1500 voluntary schools in the School Board area, accommodating about 200,000 children. These will pass under the Government scheme to public control, and in a large number of cases these schools will need to be brought up to a his-hpr standard of Nor it that all. The Education Bill is to secure for London single control and co-ordi-nation of all branches of education. This will involve the taking over of the work of the Technical Education Board of the London Ootintv Council. That Board now engages the energies of 35 members, and it spends about T8200.000 per annum on schools for science, art, technology, and trade instruction, taking part also in their administration. The present annual evnpnrljtnre of the London School Board is £3 200.000 and it may safely bo predicted that with the accession of the voluntary and technical schools the education budget of London will considerably exceed £4,000,000.