CRISIS IN IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81910, 22 December 1906, Page 3

CRISIS IN IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

battle Of TIIE EDUCATION BILL pPAsnVS FOR LORDS' INSISTENCE on amendments. PRESS COMMENT. London, December 20. During the debate on Lord Lan>downe's motion, the Archbishop of Canterbury declared that since the Government was unable to meet reasonable demands regarding the question of teachers, it would be better to lose the whole Bill, whatever the risks and disadvantages. They had only asked for equal opportunities for all. The Duke of Devonshire declared that it would be better to make al most any concession than relegate .a question to another session. The Duke of Devonshire and the Bishop of Hereford Toted with the minority, and the Archbishop of Canterbury and eight bishops with the majority. The Times says if others had displayed the spirit the Duke of Devon uhire and the Archbishop of Gmterburj exhibited, the result would | have been different. It advices the Uovernment to agree to a "round-table discussion on the subject during the ; in order to secure a permanent 1 kdution which will not offend the and des>ires of the largest community in the country. RH'ral I*ress predict the in of a more stringent Bill, demand legislation curbing of Lords' pretensions, ana it is in the GoernmcntV to coerce voluntary means of administrative They declare that all inshould be vigorously

Ih. paper gives tie [ Lords' official reaaions fur ob their amendments in th.' » Bill, iney do not admit ie contradict the principles of or altif its character beyond parents' rights and teachers' and just treatment in denoU schools.

OF COMMON'S EXCITED. DEMIttE OF THE BILL. SPEECH BY THE ' PREMIER. HOPLEB WILL MUST BE GIVEN WT EFFECT TO. r Received 21st, 10.17 p.m.

London, December 21. In the House of Commons, the Premier, Sir H. Campbetl-Bannerman. addrtwing a crowded and excited House, in a vehement speech announced tlie demise of the Education Bill. He accused Mr Balfour of being chiefly reaponsible for the failure to arrange a settlement, and ridiculed the Lord-.' mock heroics respecting the Commons nnconstitutional procedure. He declared that it was impossible to yield to the Lords without perpetuating and extending the very system the Bill m designed to remove. Continuing, the Premier said that the Government's aim was to secure national, not a denominational, system of education, as distinguished from sectarian Christianity. He warned the Lords that the resourcts of thi Constitution were not exhausted. A way must and would be found to give effect to the people's will. (Tremendous cheers.)

Mr A. Birrell, Minister of Education, denounced Mr Balfour as the wrecker of the Bill. He declared that the country would never tolerate denominational education for long.

Mr Wyndham declared that Mr Balfour had not acted independently, but was leader of a party. Prorogation takes place to-day.