The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-25 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—Tasman, 11/11110N 24.
Ix the Hones of Loans yesterday the Fairs
(Ireland) Bill was read a second time.
The Duke of MMILDOSOUUII brought in a bill on
the subject of public elementary education in Eng-
land and Wales. He said the education given in
the schools assisted by the government had been
more successful in meeting the requirements of the
country than had been generally represented. The
government did not feel it their duty to propose
either a general, or a partial, or a compulsory
system of rating, but they proposed to enable
her Majesty to appoint a Secretary of State
who should have the whole range of edu-
cational matters under his discretion and control.
Experience had shown that the rate at which the
politic money was granted in aid of voluntary
abort was net excessive, and ought not to be ex-
ceeded. Other changes were proposed which were
of an important and useful character. At present
many of the schools belonging to nonconformist
congregations did not avail themselves of the grant,
liecatise they considered that the state ought not
to inquire into the religious teaching of thechildren,
find ought not to contribute in any way toward;
that religious teaching. The government had
tome to the conclusion that a change might be
made in the revised code, and that change was em-
bodied in the bill ; the effect of the change would
be to leave out the condition that all schools, in
order to be aided by the state, must be in connec-
tion with some religious denomination. They
proposed to give payment for results on a
secular principle, so that when • school
'offered itself to be inspected, and showed
that it complied with the conditions of the grant
'as to arrangements and space, it should not be
denied the benefit of the government grant. At
the same titre it was intended to insert the
arrangement clauses which relate to the inspection
el church of England schools exactly as they now I
stand. h order that schools in poor districts
might participate in the grant, it was proposed to
'take a limit below which schools might receive a
portion of the grant without the emplo ent of a
certificated teacher. It was pro further to
make sonic addition to the bui ding grants, to
amend the conscience clause by providing that the
'religions teaching of the school should be left unin-
teetered with, but that every parent should have I
liberty to withdraw his child when religious in- '
struction was being given, and to empower the
Secretary of State for Education to take an educa-
tion census, so that they might obtain full informa-
tion on tho subject.
Earl GIIANVILLII said it would be desirable to
postpone a full discussion on the bill until the
second reading. He regretted that the measure
was not based on a broader principle, and was
afraid it would not answer the expectations of the
country.
Earl RiltiftELL remarked that the noble duke had
avoided taking any absolutely false step in the
matter. It was much to be regetted that no pro
position for assisting education by local rates was
included in the bill.

The discussion was continued by the Earl of
.oork, the Earl of Harrowby, and the Bishop of
lrbndon, after which the bill was read a first time.
The house adjourned at a quarter-past eight
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. —Tutowav, MARCH 24.1
l■ the House of Commas, on the motion of
Mr. 13ovvraia, the order on the University Tests
-Bill was postponed till the I:tth of May.
Mr. Malvin called attention to the subject of
licenses, an4l luoved that it is desirable that all
licenses injuriously affecting the industry and Corn-
'fleece of the country should be abolished. He re-
ferred to a number of trades and manufactures for
the carrying on of which licenses are required,
amongst thorn paper-makers, soap-makers, and
vinegar-makers. r ether licenses which had an in-
jurious effect were licenses for the carrying on of
retail trades, such as the selling of tea, coffee, and
tobacco, wines, spirits, and beer, and the business
of auctioneers, pawnbrokers, and brewers. The ,
total amount received was 906,3471. a-year, the
greater part of which might 1 o raised more con-
veniently by an additional tax on the article.
Mr. Lsrottenritt, in seconding the motion,
pointed out the peculiar hardship inflicted on
brewers, whose license tax amounts to 15 per cent.
on their profits.
The Uitaneituoit of tl EXCHEQUER said there
were other reasons for maintaining the license for
carrying on the retail trade in wines, spirits, and
beer beaides the necessity for raising the revenue,
but it an a matter open for consideration whether
the licenses for the sale of tea, coffee, and tobacco
al Id la• continued. 'rho whole subject was one
of diflicult.,, but he would take the hon. member's
bastements into consideration.

Mr. Put6..me-Um/1;R tin- said this was matter
that required attention, and would no doubt receive
the attention of a reformed parliament.
Mr. Bus contended that the system of licensing
ought to be general, or ought not to exist at all.
Mr. GLADSTONE. knew nothing more anomalous
than the law of licensing, but they had laid down
the doctrine that from wine, spirits, and beer they
should obtain as large an amount of taxation as
they could. The licenses on the sale of other
articles such as tea and coffee, on which the
amount levied was aniall, and which wore an ob-
stacle to trade, were to is regarded in a very dif-
ferent light.
After a few observations from Mr. Grants and
Sir p. BOWYE.R the motion was withdrawn.

Mr. SAMUE44ON moved for a select committee to
ioquire into the provisions for giving instruction in
theoretical and applied science to the industrial
classes. He quoted statistics for the purpose of
showing that in many branches of manufacture,
and especially that of iron, foreigners are over-
taking and surpassing us in the race, which was to
be attributed to the fact that the scientific educa-
tion of eur worknien was dcfoctive.
Mr. Dixon seconded. Ile said there was no
question that manufacturing superiority was de-
parting from us. In Birmingham there was a
school of art which might be productive of much
good, but they could not obtain the money to sup-
per! it, . _ _

Mr. Battles thought it desirable that the govern-
ment should grant this committee, but should hare
preferred a royal commission.
Mr. &ruff combatted the assertion that this
.countrs is retrograding. V. hatever may be thought
of foreign competition, it was a well known fact
.that English workmen were sought in all parts of
'the world. There ought to be no expenditure of
public money for the purpoae of affording a kind of
'education which was not needed, but there was a
great necessity for extended elementary instruction.
Mr. T. B. Parma took a similar view.
Lord R. MONTAGE consented to the motion, but
expressed an opinion that there was no more reason
•why the state should provide technical education
for manufacturers than for farmers, and he pointed
out that the workmen are acting on the conviction
that the possession of knowledge is the best means
of securing their prosperity. In 1860 there were
only 25 schools of art, while in 1868 there are 282
schools and 12,800 scholars.
Mr. haves was satisfied that neither with regard
to elementary education nor with regard to tech.
.meal education would there be any successful result
till we adopted the educational system followed in
.Rwitzerland and Prksaia.
Mr. HENLEY was astoilislied to hear the British
workman spoken of as ignorant. If they gave a
good elementary eilmnition, the workman would
get a technical education for himself,
Mr. PAGET and Mr. A,LAND supported the mo-
tion, which was agreed to.
Mr. Alderman LAWRENCE, moved that the house
should go into committee in order to pas/ a reso-
lution to revise, reduce, and equalise the mileage
duty and licenses on stage carriages. Re com-
plained that the duty on hackney carriages was
higher in London than in Oie provinces, and more.
over was paid to the government, instead of, as
in country towns, to the municipality.
After a short discussion the motion was with-
drawn.

Sills were introduced by Mr. H. B. Sheridan to
amend the Investment of Trust Panda Act, and

by Mr. Moak to relieve WWII offearsenaployed
lin tie celleolion and snmajpiegot d hey if•Joseta
revenues from any legal duabaity to vote at te
election of neeinken to servo in parliament.
Mr. G. Huey also obtained /save to bring in
the Boundary
On the motion for going into committee on the
London Coal and Wine Duties Continuance Bill,
Mr. CANDLISH objected to the bill, as continuing
a tax which was based on no principle.
Mr. Pease, Mr. &muds, Mr. Labouchere, and
Mr. Watkin also opposed the bill ; while Lord J.
Manners and Mr. Closchen supported it, the latter
observing that either the local rates must be in-
creased or these duties must be continued to pay
for public works which the house had alresdy sane-
, tinned.

One division the motion for going into com-
mittee on the bill was carried by 147 to 33, and
the house went into committee accordingly, and
agreed to the several clauses with some amend-
ments. _

The Court of Appeal, Chancery, Despatch
of Business Bill and the Indian Railway Com-
panies Bill passed through committee.
The Compulsory Church Rates Abolition Bill
was read a third time and pawed, after a division
on a motion by Mr. NKWDSGATI that the debate
be adjourned, and which was negatived by 131
to 28.
The house adjourned at half-past one.

Viniberdttp intelligence.

CAMBRIDGE, Mice 24.

PROPOSED EXTENSION OP THE lIItITEHIITT HT
THE ADMISSION Or NOM•COLLEGIATE Srunmera.—A meet-
ing of members of the senate, convened by the Vice-
Chancellor, was held this afternoon is the Arts School, to
take into consideration the report lately issued by the
syndicate appointed on this subject. A long and ani-
mated disonevion ensued, in the coarse of which Messrs.
, Rayner, John's ; B. H. Perowne, Correa ; Dodd,
' Vansittart, Trinity; Tom, St. John's; and oared,
Trinity, condemned the scheme in a most naquaLlAed man-
ner, on the grounds that its adoption would be a weak con-
cession to pressure from without, and the total want of
any provision for the *Vous education of the students
to be admitted, or for the maintenance of pro-
per discipline, objects now only achieved through
the control exerneed by the authorities of the re-
spective colleges over their members. The Masters of
81. John's and Mists, Professor Liveing, Mr. Bouncy,
Johns ; Mr. Campion, Queens' ; Mr. Holmes, Clare ; and
Mr. Sidgwick, Trinity ; argued contra, on the grounds
of the necessity of tolerance in religious matters, and the
great boon which would be afforded to a large clans of
students, the paucity of whose means prevented their
availing themselves of a collegiate education.
THE CHANCELLOR's CLASSICAL Ilsrute.—The gold
medals given annually by his Orace the Cbsnoellor to two
commencing bachelors of arts, who having obtained senior
options at least, prove themselves the greatest proficient/
in classical learning, have been this day adjudged as
under :—l. Jsmes Heber Taylor, Trinity College, 30th
senior optime, 1868. 2. William Lonsdale Hetherington,
Trinity College, 22nd wrangler, 1868.