THE EDUCATION BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 563, 5 November 1902, Page 3

THE EDUCATION BILL.

Per R.M.S. Sierra, at Auckland }

San Francisco, Oct 16,

Despatches from London indicato sorious differences as to tho Education Bill. Tho much-discussed Conference of Liberal Unionists called by Mr Chamberlain, and held at Birmingham on October 9, was the occasion of a remarkablo speech by tho Colonial Secretary. Tho following is from a special correspondent of tho American press at London, under date October lith : ing for a fall ? Mr Chamberlain’s remarkable speech at Birmingham seems to indicate a lively fear or lively hope that a Government crisis is at hand. Mr Chamberlain’s threat that tho Ministry will resign if tho Educational Bill is rejected by the House of Commons induced its Liberal Unionist supporters.to pause, but until the measure is so modified as to give taxpayers soiuo control over the priest directed schools of tho Anglican Church, which Mr Balfour now proposes to assist out of rates paid in parts by Nonconformists, oven Mr Chamberlain may fail to keep his pprsoual following in control. Various interpretations are placed upon the Birmingham deliverance. Thoso woo insist that Mr Chamberlain, when the lion's skin fails always ekes it out with foxes, believe he would not

regret the downfall of the Cabinet, because Mr Balfour’s dofeat would leave tho way clear to a Government in which ho would hold a highor position than that of Colonial Secrotary. They talk of a RoseberyChamborlain coalition. “ Thoro is tho third view of the Church. It assumes that Mr Chamberlain is loyal to Mr Balfour, but indifferent to the fate of tho Bill, save for the fact that the Premier has seen fit to make it a Cabinet question. “For Mr Balfour tho passage of the Bill is a matter of life or death. Ho has been its expounder, champion, and apologist. It is inseparatoly joined to his palitical fortunes.”