The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-29 00:00:00

THE MEMBERS FOR OLDHAM.

Mr. J. T. Hibbert, and Mr. J. Platt, members for
Oldham, have addressed their constituents under
the auspices of the local Liberal Association. Mr.
Hibbert referred to the Irish Church Bill as a proof
that the present Government were actuated by a
policy film%) generous, unsectarian, and patriotic,
than that of any Government which the country had
had in times past. lie cited as further proof of this
the passing of the Bankruptcy and other Acts,
to which, he expressed a hope, would be
added in the coming session that for the
abolition of university tests. With regard to
the army and navy, he claimed to the credit of the
• Government a reduction of 82,250,000, and this, too,
,withatifidiminishing the efficiency of either service.
The Irish land question, he said, should be settled
either by a system of long leases„ or better
still, the Ulster tenant right should be ap-
plied to the whole of Ireland. On the question
of Education, Mr. Hibbert said he could not go either
with the League or the Union. lie expressed him-
self in favour of the voluntary system. Mr. Platt
addressed the audience chiefly on the Irish Church
question, endorsing Mr. Ilibbort's views thereon.

THE SCOTCH VOLUNTEERS AND THE GOVERNMENT.
A meeting of field officers, representing the
ten western counties of Scotland, has been held in
reference to the proposed changes by the Government
in the organisation of the volunteer force. After some
discussion it was decided to represent to the Secretary
of War that the maintenance and prosperity of the
force is incompatible with a continuance of the heavy
pecuniary chaiages to which officers have hitherto
been subjected. The memorialists, while expres-
sing a' general approval of the proposed
changes, regret there is no prospect of the
force being relieved from the difficulties which
threaten to dissolve it. They nevertheless make a
number of suggestions. They advocate the reduction
of the qualification for extra efficiency ; that there
should be no necessity for every volunteer to have a
certain amount of rifle practice in the year; a capi-
tation. grant of 30s. for efficients, and 40s. for extra-
effluents, Artillery and Engineers; the existence of
a fund for meeting battalion expenses ; and the
travelling allowance for journeys of two miles and a
half from the place of assembly.
CHURCH CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION.
The National Education Union has been aided by
a conference in the diocese of Rochester. llicst of
the clergymen assembled were very vigorous in their
denunciations of the League scheme. To eliminate
religious teaching from education was, they held,
a most dangerous course. The vicar of Chatham
expressed the opinion that the instruction of British
youth ought to be in tho hands of the Established
Church, as the " solo depository of the truth "—a
moderate sentiment, which labours under the disad-
vantage of being equally applicable to British grown
persons as well as British youth. Dr. Avelinv• de-
fended the National Education League. The Ven.
Archdeacon Grant earnestly hoped that the education
problem would be settled this session. The Bishop
of Rochester, who presided, was not without belief
that the measure to be brought in by the Govern-
ment would take a middle course between the ex-
treme views advocated by the League, and the
more moderate demands of the Union. The feeling
of the country, there could be no doubt, was
altogether adverse to a compulsory secular system of
education.