THE EDUCATION BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 294, 7 December 1908, Page 2

THE EDUCATION BILL.

XHK MIiASUKJi ABANDONED. oF AUHAXm'ti \ CO.Mi'IiO.ULSIO,

l-oiidoii, December 4. Jt is officially announced that the iidncaiiou Bill Juts been abandoned. Cabinet s decision U; is practically mi amnions, n was due to the implissibi lity ol arranging M con,promise as to the amount to lie paid by the State io schools conlracting uut oi public contro, foregoing tile support of local rates, rhe Council .Schools Protection Com mittee has issued an important manifesto urging all lriends of national education to prevent ccclcsiasticisni from securing the light of entry to Council schools.

Tile nonconformist leader, Uev. Dr. (.lillord, declares that the Covernmenl would do hotter to lling the Bill to the winds than to yield further to the demands of the Anglican Church. The Daily Telegraph slates that the majority of the Cabinet members are prepared to increase the grants to co/t traeting-out schools by 2s Oil. It is reported that the only optimists on the Cabinet are .Mr. Asqu'ith and Mr ltunciiaau. The others are indifferent or hostile to the compromise. The Daily News declares there would be no tears even if the Bill disappea:ed.

TIIE CHURCH'S ATTITUDE. CHANCED THE SITUATION. MR. RUXCIMAN AND THE PRIMATE. Received 0, 4.5 p.m. London, December 5. Mr. Walter Kunciman, President of the Education Council, in a letter to the Primate, remarked that it was understood the number of schools contracting out would be strictly limited. The State promised to give them a reasonable chance of existence. No facts, he continued, were produced showing that the proposals -under the Bill were inadequate. The meeting of the Clutrch Council altered the whole situation. Several new claims were advanced with the support of a majority of the bishops. Hence the Government's conclusion to drop the Bill altogether. The Archbishop did not find it possible to obtain an adhesion to the terms of the proposed settlement.

THE PRIMATE IX REPLY. A MISAPPREHENSION. MORE REGRETS AMONG CHURCHMEN THAN NONCONFORMISTS.

Received 6, 4.5 p.m. London, December The Primate, replying on Friday niglit, surveyed the details of the meeting, declaring that Mr. Rimcinian's view con-' reniing the Council and its note was based 011 «• complete misapprehension. The facts were that more regrets at the loss of the Education Bill were expresseo among Churchmen than among Nonconformists, many of whom threatened revolt if further concessions were granted,

THE ABANDONMENT DEPRECATED. Received 0, 4.5 p.m. London, December 3. Mr. Alfred Lyttelton, in a letter to the Times, deprecates the abandonment of the final settlement merely owing to differences iu figures hastily collected by both sides.

PRESS VIEWS. A DISSOLUTION FAVORED. Received ti, 4.5 p.m. London, December 5. The Times suggests the reintroduction of the Hill 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 the Nonconformists who if the Education question had been settled would have left tlieni owing to the socialistic tendencies of their legislation.

PASSIVE RESISTANCE. ITS RESUMPTION URGED. Received 0, 4.5 p.m. London, December 5. Dr. Clifford advised the resumption of passive resistance.