BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8315, 19 December 1906, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE WORCESTER ELECTION. Received December 18, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, December 18. In the House of Commons Sir A. b\ aoland Hood mored that anew writ be issued for the Worcester election, contending that It was unfair to punish the masa of electors for the fault of a few. Mr J. L. Walton, aa an amendment, moved that no writ be issued this session. The amendment was carried by 263 votes to 66.

THE EDUCATION BILL. Reoeived December 18, 11.7 p.m. LONDON, December 18. In the House of Lords the Earl of Orewe abated that the House of Commons disagreed with the House of Lords' amendments to the Education Bill, because they completely altered the oharaoter of the Bill, ooutradioting its principles. Tbe Marquis of Lansdowne protested that the House of Commons' mesauge was unprecedented; curt and almost contemptuous. The proper course would ta for the Lords to insist on the reinstatement of the amendments, but he moved that the Lords protest against, the innovation of constitutional procedure in rejecting the amecdments without assigning specific reasons. He mored the adjournment of the debate to enable tLe Government to make a definite statement. ftThe Earl of Orewe indicated that the Government would be willing to drop clause 6, which makes attendance daring the hours of religious instruction expresely noncompulsory, and also to permit assistant teachers to voluntoer to give denomination tenoning in uibau und the really Inrge schools in rural areas.

COMPULSORY TAKING OV'BR OF EXISTING SCHOOLS. "A HALF-WAY HOUSE." Received December 19, 12.15 a.m. "LONDON, December 18. The Earl of Crewe undertook that be and the Duke of Devonshire would end<4vour to find a "halfway house" regarding the enmpuhory taking over of existing schools. The Government will refuse to admit single schools in rural areas to the privileges of clause 4, tut the urban limitation would be removed. The Earl of Crewe add«d that the Government cannot pledge that the House of Commons will aooept the concessions.