BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1722, 12 April 1906, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE EDUCATION BILL. By telegraph. Press Aes’n, Copyright London, April 10. Mr C. F. Masterman, member for West Ham, says that the Education Bill will rekindle religious fires. Dr. Clifford, the Nonconformist 1 sader, is gratified, but not satisfied. He condemns the four-fifths clause. Archdeacon Sinclair and the Archbishop of York, in a letter, make .bo best of tbo Bill. . , I Tbo Times says it requires radical amendment. , Tbe Daily News says that if churchmen refuse to compromise they, will be given no second choice. The Westminster Gazette says Liberal Commoners generally approve of tbe Bill. Tbe Manchester Guardian declares it to be a thorough and tolerant

measure. The Scotsman savs tho Bill ought to be entitled “ A Bill for State endowment of Nonconformity.” Mr W. T. Stead thinks tbe fourfifths clause ought to meet the needs of Catholics and Jews, but will proI bably go hard with the Anglicans. Many amendments have been foreshadowed at the second reading stage of the Education Bill, which will be

taken after Easter Nonconformists fear that the four-fifths clause will be utilised largely to perpetuate denominational teaching. The Opposition propose to lower the proportion. Mr Ramsay MacDonald has given notice of an amendment providing for the teaching of eecular subjects only I within school hours from the publio funds. Churchmen denounce the Bill as an

unjust curtailment of religious instruction, and disregard of parental rights. A meeting of South London Catholics expressed profound astonishment and indignation at the Bill. In the House of Commons, replying to Mr H. Cox’s question, if the Government intend to continue the prohibit tion of contractors supplying foreign frozen mutton to the Army, Mr Haldane gave his opinion that quality and I price should alone be considered.

Replying to Mr R. Laidlaw, Mr Asquith promised to consider the claims of the British investor in the colonies for special relief if and when it was possible to remit the. income tax, but as at present advised he was not clear that the incidence was unfair.

ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY'S CRITICISM, GRAVE EMERGENCY. .

liy telegraph, Press Ass’n, Copyright Reoeived 11.24 p.m., April 11-

LondoD, April 11,

Tho Arohbishop of Canterbury in a letter to the Secretary of the National Society for promoting the education principles of the established Church, says that the Education Bill witharaws from ohnrohmen the right to carry oat the principles whioh successive Governments of all parties for half a oentury encouraged them to maintain, and brings voluntary sohools by one Btroke to an end, involving trust property, given in many instances by donors still alive, for the very purpose of securing what was uow proscribed, Churchmen should take immediate counsel in this far-reaohing and grave emergency.

COMPENSATION BILL. By telegraph, Press Aea’n, DopyUgh* Received 12 22 a.m., April 12. London, April 11, la the House of Gammons Mr Walton's Workmens Compensation Bill was read a second time, and referred to the committee on law. _v . 'i