The Irish University Bill

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 20, 21 May 1908, Page 13

The Irish University Bill

As we were informed by cable at the time, Mr. Birrell introduced the Irish University Bill in the House of Commons on March 31. After some introductory remarks Mr. Birrell proceeded to give an account of the present state of University education in Ireland, and an outline of the measure. There are, he said-, two universities in Ireland— the one founded by Queen, Elizabjeth, and the other by Queen Victoria — two farrows women, but separated by a long distance of time. The older foundation is, of course, the University of Dublin^ so inextricably entangled with its one college, Trinity, as to be known throughout the whole world as Trinity College, Dublin. Everyone knows Trinity College, her imposing site — one of the noblest in Europe — her* magnificent buildings, her famous library with its pricelets manuscripts, her gardens, and her proud memotruesi in science, literature, and mathematics. This is a great foundation., splendidly situated, and comiortabtiy endowed. It has about 1000 students. From private sources, it receives £50,000, and altogether about £90,000 per annum. Catholics were admitted in 1793, and in 1873 peoiple of that religion were admitted to cash emoluments. Ireland's other University is the Royal, founded in 1879, which replaced the former Queen's University, established in 1850. The Royal was not

a teaching, but an examining, University, giving degrees to those who were successful in obtaining a sufficient number of marks. This bad only an income of £20, COO a year, derived from the Irish Church Funds, To young men and young women degrees were given, and ' they for the most, part got their instruction at one or the other of the four Colleges at Belfast, Cork, Galway, and • the Catholic University College at Dublin. We propose to found

New Universities

in Ireland at Dublin .arod Belfast. In Belfast tlhere will b-e tout one - college, and in that respect the University of Belfast will resemble the University of Dublin, which hias but one college— Trinity. The University of Belfast will have but one college— Queen's ; and it will not be able to have any other- except by Act of Parliament. Dublin • will have three constituent colleges— 4Jork, Galway, and a new college with a charter— an incoqporaied body in Dublin itself. Cork and Ga*lway will also have two new charters, and reconstructed governing bodies. .Neither Belfast nor Dublin will 'have any power to add to their constituent colleges, 'but they will have the restrictive power of affiliation. The existing Royal University will be dissolved as from some appointed day, and its buildings, property, and endowments win be dealt with in the manner mentioned in the Bill. The suggestion is that £20,000 a year shall be equally divided between Dublin and Belfast. Neither of the endowments will have any religious test. No test whatever of religious belief shall be irr posed on any person as a condition of his becoming a professor, fellow, lecturer, scholar, graduate, or student, or of his holding any office or endowment or exorcising any privilege in either of the two Universities or any college of the Universities 5 noj: shall any preference be given to or advantage withheld from any person, on the ground of his religious belief.

The Position of Maynooth

The House will say— What about Maynooth and Magee ? They are not mentioned in the Charter or in the Bill, and they are not constituent colleges, tout I have no doubt that the Senate will affiliate Maynooth and Magee. I say that quite frankly. Magee has a Presbyterian foundation, and has always been recognised by the Royal University. It has always had a close and honorable connection with persons who have graduated with the Royal, and it would b~e unfair and unjust that its rights should not be maintained. Therefore I have very little doubt that Magee will be affiliated. The same with Maynooth. A University which altogether ignores and disregards the clergy of the country, starts with very great disadvantag.es. Maynooth has been of late years closely , connected with the Royal. It has made it a condition that every person who enters as a student should matriculate at the Royal. Their course is a long one— seven years, the first three years of which are devoted to arts. A great majority during those three years are encouraged to proceed to a degree. It will be a great hardship upon the students of Maynooth if they are suddenly deprived of the opportunity of obtaining degrees at the University which takes the place of the Royal, to which they have hitherto gone. ■ The arts school at Maynooth is a very good school, and I do not think there is any reason for apprehension that any injury will be done to the Senate or to the University of Dublin if it allows the teaching at Maynooth to be recognised as university teaching. As to the finances of ■ I This Great Undertaking, the present charge on the Exchequer is £36,500 ; the present charge on the Irish Fund is £2*0,000 : that is the beginning and end of the public charge -as far as it goes. As I said, we propose to divide the £20,000 between the Universities, which will leave £10,000 to each,, and we propose to increase the £.36,500 in a lump sum to £80,000. That is a provision by way of new endowment of £43,500. Opinions no doubt may differ as to whether that is enough or less than enough). My own belief is that it is adequate for the occasion/. 1 ; that it would be enough if this Bill gets through to make it plain that these Universities- will be a success. It is proposed that Belfast will get £10,000 for its University, as part of the Irish Church Surplus Fund, and that £18,000 will be given as an annual endowment, which*., will make a total of £28,000 a year. The new college in Dublin has, of course, got to be built, and then endowed . and maintained, and the proposal is that out of the moneys which .1 have suggested only £32,000 shall be provided to endow and maintain, the new University in Dublin when once started. The income of Queen's College, Cork, will "foe increased to .£IB,OOO a year, and of the

Queen's College, Galway, to £12,000 a year. All things considered, these sums are adequate and sufficient to meet the immediate necessities of the case. Building grants will become necessary. Belfast has fine buildings which are yet inadequate for 'the purposes, of a university, and . it is proposed to girant £60,000 in order to celebrate this a/uspioious occasion, and to provide it with' all the appearances of a university worthy of the distinguished province to which it belongs. The maximum sum needed, I air. told, in Dublin is £150,000. That would not be sufficient to build on any scale a residential college. Hostels will have to be left to private enterprise and generosity, and I hope it will be sufficient, first of all, to complete, the present university buildings, many of which can be utilised for college purposes.

"Mr. Balfour supported the scherre. Mr. Dillon, while protesting against the inadequacy of the endowment, said a unhersity founded on the principles set forth by Mr. Birrell would be acceptable to the Catholics. Mr. William Moore uttered an Orange protest against the whole scheme. Mr. Butcher, the member for Cambridge, who followed, welcomed the Bill, and administered a s'ha.rp reproof to Mr. Moore. Professor Massie also spoke in support. Mr. William O'Brien, joined in the approval but spoke in detail as to the position of Cork and associated himself with Mr. Dillon's protest against the financial proposals. Mr. Wyndham and Sir Edward Carson supported the measure. The first reading was Carried by 307 votes to 24. The Bill passed its second reading last week by 344 \otes to 31.