THE EDUCATION BILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2545, 24 December 1902, Page 15

THE EDUCATION BILL.

~ ■♦- v „ LONDON, .December 17. j A committee of the ;HouspXof Com- . mons considered the Lords', amendments ' jto the Bill: „ ,\ > j With a view to helping Moor-, house's amendment, the'.jesponsibility for wear and tear/and 'the _ . repair, of the schools to thY local' autho r ' rity, a proviso, was moved stipulating that it was not intended to increase the i public „ burdens. This, however, was dropped at the instance- of Sir James Fergusson,by a majority of 96, and the> original amendment of -Dr Moorhouse was affirmed, on Sir J. -Fergusson*s md- . tion, by 197 to 159. Mr J. E. Redmond and 56 Nationalists voted' with the majririty. r ', -,Thp'S Unionists were. " greatly ] divided. ' TJie Radicals- protested -that '< it was a sham proviso to overcome' financial privilege. Mr Balfour, while supporting Sir J.Fergusson/ left the quesr tion to the discretion "of the' House! ' ; - - December .18.' . The House of .Commons^ by 2^B to 82, . agreed' .to^the.Lord^Halsibufy. and" Colonel- - . Slaney /clause inrtte^Educa,tibii^Bill^ defining more "clearly' the\ fight of- appeal r*fri^^tfi^;.b^ops^.-r^rj3^tq- ; the char- ' ! acter, of^fche^ eligioul^in^ti^ctiqn.' 'ffeo by > UtaughtJ-, , .-' - ..".» ..".---- ' . . '" . [ r ,Lord; Hugh. , Cecil's, vigorous, protest : drew : from, Mr -Balfour >a; strong •warning of the danger to the Church of any ( driving deeper of the wedge unhappily separating ecclesiastical, opinion and the great body of lay opinion. * The bill- then passed the' Commons, and subsequently ttie Lords. [Colonel Kenyon - Slaney's amendment, which was' accepted by the Government, is as follows: — "Religious,, instruction shall be given . in, .a Jscßpol not provided -by.-tbe',-local education' authority inraccordante~with'\the tenor of the provisions (if any) of the trust deed relating^ thereto, and shall bo under the control of 'the managers." "'lt was bitterly opposed by the High Church 'party, of whom Lords Talbot and Cecil are distinguished mbinbejrs.] \ { .- ■ •' f • v.