IRISH UNIVERSITY EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1690, 21 July 1879, Page 3

IRISH UNIVERSITY EDUCATION.

In the House of Commons yesterday (says the " Daily News " of May 21st) The O'Oonor Don mored the second reading of the University Education (Ireland) Bill. He stated that it was no essential part of the scheme that the money for carrying it out should come from the funds of the Disestablished Church. If Parliament preferred to find the money from any other source no objection would be taken by the promoters of the Bill. There was, he assured the House, no intention of " rushing " the Bill. The second reading had been moved yesterday because, if further delayed, the chance of passing the Bill would be lost. But he would undertake that the subsequent stages Bhould be taken at a date that would afford ample opportunity for public opinion to be formed on its merits. Sir George Campbell, who had gained the first place at the ballot, moved an amendment laying down the principle that the funds of the Disestablished Church in Ireland might properly be devoted to the benefit of the people of Ireland, providing they are not again applied to the support of sectarian religion. He also urged that till adequate provision had been made for elementary teaching in Ireland without drawing exceptional aid from the Imperial exchequer, it is not desirable to davote additional public funds to the further promotion of higher education. Lord Edmond Ftomaurice seconded the amendment, protesting in an able speech against any kind of religious endowment, whether concurrent or otherwise. The debate was continued by Mr M'Laren, Mr King-Harman, Mr Osborne Morgan, Mr D. Plunket, and Mr Shaw. It was now nearly five o'clock, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer rose in a crowded House. The right hon. gentleman observed that ho was very reluctant to raise minute points of criticism ; but the information as to the source from which the money cams was really a question of a very large character, and went to the root of the matter. He thought it would be right and proper, before the House agreed to a second reading, that they should know from the promoters of the Bill what particular source they desired to draw upon. Other details with respsot to which he thought further information was necessary related to the colleges to be affiliated under the Bill; whether it was intended that the endowment funds should be unreservedly placed in the hands of the Senate, with power of accumulation ; and whether the Universities wero to have the power, not only of carrying on competition for students in the ordinary way, but by offering advantages of lower terms. It had been urged by the promoters of the Bill that it was based upon the principle of the intermediate Education Act of last session. But the Chancellor pointed out that it had been a fundamental principle of that measure that none of the funds of the Church should be applied directly or indirectly to denomination purposes. There was nothing in the shape of a conscience clause in the Bill. Were the promoters prepared to suggest anything in that form ? He would prefer to see paymi mt made to the student* instead of to the colleges, with tho object of avoiding the danger of endowing denominational institutions. In conclusion he complained tiat there was no time to consider this and oiher objections to the scheme before going to a division. Mr Lowe took it for granted, that after the speech of the Chancellor, the O'Conor Don would not press the Bill to a division. Nevertheless, he thought that the debate had turned too muoh upon matters more suited for Committee than for a motion for the second reading, and warmly urged the House to affirm the principle that something should be done, in the direction of settling tho education question in Ireland. "We have, he said, worn out all the machinery we

hare devised for this purpose, and we have now to take a new departure. Would the House cleave to the heggarly elements of which the existing scheme had been made, or would they endeavor to guide by yielding ? They had not been able to do what they had aspired to—to make one system of education work in Ireland. The next best thing was to have different systems for Roman Catholics and for Protestants, and to make thorn as good and as perfect as possible. Mr Synan moved the adjournment of the debate, a course to which The O'Conor Don did not object, though he trusted the Government would name an early day for the resumption of the debate. The Marquis of Hartington supported this appeal, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer said he was not able to respond to it at present. Sir George Campbell intimated that he would withdraw his amendment in favor of one meeting the Bill with a direct negative. The debate was thereupon adjourned, the remaining orders disposed of, and the House adjourned.