BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8171, 29 June 1906, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE EDUCATION BILL. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF. COMMONS. STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. Received oune 28, 8.32 a.m. LONDON, June 27. During the debate in the House of Commons on tbe Education Bill, vehement speeches were made from the Irish benches on the inequality and injustice of clause 4 (which provides for religious instruction of a special cbaraoter being given if the parents of four-fifths of the obildren desire it) and of Mr Birrell's amendment, providing for a ballot to enable parents to express their wishes on the subject. Mr Redmond desoribed the contracting out proposal as being "kicked out." The Prime Minister (Sir Henry Campbell-Baunerman) declared that the Catholics might go further and fare worse. If the alternative offered by the Opposition were adopted, what, be asked, would beoome of the Catholic atmosphere. Mr Birrell's Bill was undenominational. The Government meant that the common elements of Christianity, with a flavour of Protestantism, should be taught in the schools. He had uot imagined that this would be distasteful to Anglicans. . Continuing bis remarks, the Premier said the Government intended to adhere to clause 4, which was meant to conciliate tbe Catholics. Mr Balfour retorted that the attempt to settle or delegate to looal authorities what are the common elements of Christianity was arrogant and absurd, and inconsistent with Liberal traditions. Regarding secular and theologioal relations, he said the Bill did not redress eitber denomiuationalists' or passive resistors' grievances. A division on Mr Evelyn Cecil's amendment making clause 4 mandatory was taken, and was rejected on the following voting:—For, 237; against, 340. Mr Cave'then moved his amendment to extend the clause to rural areas where there are alternative schools. Tbe amendment was negatived, the voting being as follows: For, 148; against, 344. CLAUSES FOUR' AND FIVE PASSED. * Reoeived June 29, 12.35 a.m. LONDON, June 28. After the Opposition's amendments had been rejected, clause four, with Mr Birrell's amendments thereon, was adopted by 415 votes to 138. The fifth clause was also passed. NEWS IN WAR TIME. Reoeived June 29, 1.8 a.m. LONDON, June 28. in the House of Commons Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman stated that ho hopes to deal with the question of news in war time in 1907.