IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2155, 2 April 1908, Page 3

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

CABLE NEWS

THE EDUCATION BILL. United Press Association —Copyright LONDON, •MiU'cili.sl. The Bislion of St. Asaph .moved the second rending of his Education Bib. Ho argued that it was calculated to secure safety, peace, uniformity, and efficiency. The Archbishop of Canterbury stated that the Bill w is not officially put. forward by the Church, though .it went a long way towards producing an agreement. He favored any settlement not involving a sacrifice* of the Church’s 1 fundamental principles. Lord Crewe advised tint the Bill bo >mul a second time. Ho said ho •believed that it was am honest attempt at settlement, though many grave questions must- bo met before lie requirements of the country were secured. The Government thought their Bill ought to be the basis for discussion. Lord Lansdowiio slid that the Bill stopped far short of a compromise which •would satisfy unionists. It. not only contained ambiguous clauses, hut there were .serious omissions. Lord Rosebery considered that the •Bill would bo an enormous step forward. The debate was adjourned. IRISH UNIVERSITY BILL. RECEIVES MUCH APPROBATION CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS BOTH SATISFIED. United Press Association —Copyright . (Received April 1, 11.25 p.iir.) LONDON, April 1. Leave was given to introduce Mr. Birrell’s Irish University Bill by 307 votes to 24 votes, and it was read for tho first time amid’ loud cheers. It proposes to create, by lloyal Charter, two now universities, one at Dublin and. the other at Belfast. The Dublin university will comprise three colleges, the reconstituted Queen’s College at Cork, a Galway college, and a now college at Dublin. Tho Belfast university will consist, of ono college. Thero will bo no religious tests for professors or students, though Mr. Birroll thought tho first president, of tho new Dublin College ought to bo a Catholic layman-. £20,000 a year from tho Irish churches fund is now allocated to a Royal university, and will bo divided equally between the two now universities, which will receive £SO,OOO from tho Exchequer, instead of the £36,500 at present granted to tho Irish university education. Apart from tho church fund, Belfast university will receive an annual endowment of £19.000, the now Dublin college £32,000, Queen’s College, Cork, £IB,OOO, and Queen’s College, Galway, £i2,000. As building grants, Belfast receives £60,000, and Dublin £150,000. Mr. Birred affirmed that tho new universities would bo undenominational, though Dublin might have’ a Catholic and Belfast* a. Presbyterian completion. Mr. Bfdfour, Mr. Dillon, 'Mr. O’Brien, Mr. Butcher. Mr. Carson, and Mr. AVyndhnm expressed general satisfaction with the scheme, ,a,nd ■ applauded tho spirit -in which Mr. Birrell had approached the problem. Mr. Balfour declared that, broadly speaking, no better plan couid bo devised. The Government were wise'in leaving Trinity College alone’', but lie questioned the prudence of handing over the whole tutorial patronage to the senates. The “Times” says that if Mr. Birrell carries his scheme lie deserves well of Ireland. Though Mr. Dillon states that the scheme rvill be acceptable to Catholics, it would be. as well to await the opinions of the Irish •Bishops. A TARIFF DISCUSSION. , MR. BALFOUR AND COLONIAL ■ PREFERENCE. United Press Association—Copyright (Received April 1, 12.53 p.m.) .LONDON, April 1. , Air. Mond’s resolution, carried by 280 to 91, affirms any attempt to broaden' the basis of taxation by placing-small import duties, but it is on a large number of articles that it would be financially unsound and uneconomical, and harmful to industry and commerce. It would bo likely to raise prices and tend to an imposition of high tariffs as dn protected countries. Air. Balfour ridiculed it as a phantom and a strange extravagant system of taxation which -no ono recommended, but a broadening basis of taxation was inevitable and was not distant. The only course open was to increase the number of Customs duties which was desirable on financial grounds alone, and was doubly welcome if it afforded a change. ' The making of arrangements with the colonies would strengthen the Empire. It .would' increase our manufacturing powers, and would enlarge our markets beyond tho seas. Mr. Runciman declared that Air. Balfour was committed to a’- general tariff. . i Air. Balfour explained he was only committed to a very wide extension of the basis ol : taxation. Mr. Runciman insisted that Air. Balfour was committed to colonial preference, and, through that, to taxes on food.