THE EDUCATION BILL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3063, 7 December 1908, Page 5

THE EDUCATION BILL

IMPORTANT MANIFESTO.

WHAT CABINET WAS PREPARED TO DO.

"'UNHONOURED AND USNUNG."

LONDON, December 4. The Council Schools Protection Committee has issued an important manifesto urging all friends of national education to prevent ecclesiasticism sscuring the right of «ntry to council schools. The Rev. Dr. Clifford, the wellknown Nonconformist divine, declares that the Government had *l)etter fling the Bill to the winds than yield further. The "Daily Telegraph" states that a majority of the Cabinet is prepared to increase the grants to contracting-out schools by 2s 6d per pupil.

It is reported that the only .optimists in the Cabinet are Mr Asquith and Mr Runciman; of the others, some are indifferent, and gome hostile to the compromise. j. The News" declares that the:?! Wouid be no tears even if th e Bill disappeared. BILL ABANDONED. IP 8 - —— CABINET'S DECISION PRACTICALLY UNANIMOUS. THE STUMBLING BLOCK. J LONDON, December 4. It is Officially announced that the Elocation Bill has been abandoned. The Cabinet's decision, which was practically unanimous, was due to th= impossibility of arranging the contracting-out terms. THE PRIMATE'S DIFFICULTY. * MR RUNCIMAN'S CONCLUSIONS. REGARDING THE CHURCH COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE. THE PRIMATE IN REPLY. ■Received December 6, 4.5 p.m. LONDON, December 5. Mr Runciman, in a letter to the Primate, remarked that it was understood that the number of schools contracting out should be strictly limited. The State promised to give tbsem a reasonable ct anc2 of existence, and no facts were produced showing that the proposals in the Bill were The meeting of the ■Church Council altered the whole >situation. Several new claims advanced with a support of the majority of the bishops, hence the Government's conclusion that the Ardhbishop did no find it possible to obtain adhesion to the terms of the proposed settlement.

The Primate, replied on Friday siljht, surveying the details of Ime ■meeting of the CeunciJ, declares that Mr Runciman's vie® concerning the Council vote is based on a complete misapprehension of the facts. There would be more regrets at the loss of the Education Bill expressed among churchmen than among nonconformists, many of whom threatend to revolt if further concessions were

granted. Mr Alfred Lyttelton, in a letter to "The Times," .deprecates the abandonment of a final settlement merely owing to differences in figures hastily collected by both sides.

press comments on the situation. % »orted desire by cabinet Ambers for dissolution.

Received December 6, 8 p.m.

LONDON, December 6,

"The Times" suggests the reintroduction ©f the Bill next session.

"'The Telegraph" declares that Eeveral members of the Cabinet favour dissolution in January on the ground that tfaa Government will then be able to retain the support of that section of the nonconformists who, if the education question had been settled, would have left them owing to the socialistic tendencies of their legislation.

Dr. Clifford (of Westbourne Park Baptist Chapel) advised the resumption of the passive resistance policy.