IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2367, 7 December 1908, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

GABLE NEWS

THE EDUCATION BILL. THE BILL ABANDONED. United Press Association, Copyright LONDON, Dee. 4. The Council. Schools Protection Committee has issued an important manifesto, urging all friends of national education to prevent ecclosiasticism securing the right of entry into council schools.

Dr; Clifford declared that the Government had better fling the Bill 1o the winds than yield further. The “Daily Telegraph” states ‘i.'.t the majority of the Cabinet were jPepared to increase grants to contracting out-schools by 2s Gd. It. is declared that the only optimists of the Cabinet are Air. AsqurJi and Air. Runciman. The others are indifferent, and some hostile to a compromise.

The “Daily News” declares tha*there will be no tears even if the lull disappears. It is officially announced that < Education Bill has been abandoned. The Cabinet’s decision was prac i;i.ly unanimous, duo to the ivnposs'bi itv of arranging the contracting- rut terms.

EXPLANATION AND RETORT.

MINISTER AND PRIMATE

(Received Dec. 6, 3.5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 5

Air. Runciman, in a letter to the Primate, remarked that it was understood that the number of schools.contracting out would be strictly limited. The State promised to give them a reasonable chance of existence, and no facts had been produced showing that the proposals of the Bill were inadequate. The meeting of the Church Council altered the whole situation. Several new claims were advanced with the support of a majority of the bishops. Hence the 'Government’s conclusion that the Archbishop did not find it possible to obtain adhesion to the terms of the proposed settlement. The Primate, replying on Friday night and surveying the details of the meeting, declares that Air. lluncimail’s view concerning the Council vote was based on a complete misapprehension of the facts. Afore regrets of the loss of the Education Bill were expressed among Churchmen than among Nonconformists, many' of whom threatened to revolt if further concessions were granted. ;

NEWSPAPER OPINIONS. THE QUESTION OF A DISSOLUTION. (Received Dec. 6, 3.5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 5. Mr. Alfred Lyttelton, in a letter to the “Times,,” deprecates the abandonment of a. final settlement, merely owing to a difference in figures hastily collected by both sides. The “Times” suggests the reintroduction of the Bill next session. The “Telegraph” declares that several members of the Cabinet favor a dissolution in January on the ground that the Government would then be able to retain the support of that section of Nonconformists, who if the education question had been settled would have left them, owing to the socialistic tendencies of their legislation.

THE NONCONFORMISTS

PASSIVE RESISTANCE ADVOCATED.

(Received Dec. 6, 3.5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 5. Dr. Clifford advised,the resumption :>f passive resistance.

WOMEN’S FRANCHISE

A COMMITTEE OF OPPOSITION

LONDON, Dec. 4

• A large and influential committee has been formed, irrespective of parties, to oppose the extension of the franchise to women.

THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

THE REFORM PROPOSALS

SUGGESTED COLONIAL REPRESENTATION.

(Received December 6, 4.20 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 5.

Details of Lord Rosebery’s committee’s scheme for the reform of the House of Lords include a proposal that Canada., Australia, New 'Zealand, and South Africa should he represented in the deliberations of the House by nominees of the respective Colonial Governments, ami suggest that the views of the latter should be .ascertained regarding the manner of securing some such arrangement.