The Sun.
London, England, 1869-08-06 00:00:00

PAROCHIAL EDUCATION (SCOTLAND) BILL.

On the house going into committee on this bill,
Mr. DISRAELI thought it was impossible to give the
measure that consideration it deserved at this period of the
session. The subject of Scotch education was not ono.
simply affecting Scotch members, but it was one of
national interest, and he did not think it ought to be dis-
posed of in any hole and corner manner, but discussed and
considered in the amplest manner, and he wanted to know
if such could be done now at the very fag end of the
session. It was said that if the bill was not passed during
this session 90,000 children would be deprived of educa-
tion, but, if that was so, that was no reason why an im-
proper bill should be passed. (Hear, hear.) He thought
it was a matter that desired the most serious consideration
of the house whether they should not pass a law limiting
the time after which no public bill should be
read a second thus, because if bills of such
paramount importance as that now before them
were pressed forward at the end of the session, when the
Appropriation Bill had been passed, and the session looked
upon as virtually at an end, it was, in fact, giving to 45
members on the Ministerial side of the house, members
holding office under Government, the power of passing
any measure they pleased. He thought, under all the
circumstances, the bill ought not to be now further pro-
eded with.
The LORD ADVOCATE said it was most unfortunate
that there should have been so much delay, but it was
wholly impossible to prevent it. Ho hoped the house
would consent to go on with the bill.
Mr. HENLEY said he thought they were, during the
last ten days, going at a pretty good pace for bringing
legislation into contempt. (Hear, hear.) And if they
did that contempt for the law would follow. There were
now over 100 amendments to the bill ; and although it had
been said that the Lord Advocate had agreed to7o of them,
ho did not thick that even then there was time to give the
measure that consideration it deserved at this advanced
period of the session.
Mr. COLLINS said he did not care what the Scotch
members did for Scotland—(laughter)—but he was afraid
that the manner in which this bill was being huddled
through the house would be.inade a precedent for the Eng-
lish bill. It appeared to him perfectly ridiculous to say
they only bad to send the bill back to the Lords after they
had made amendments. That was true, certainly ; but
then they were going to send the Lords back a bill per-
fectly different from that which their lordships had sent
down to them. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. CANDLISH thought it was not too much to say
that there were still numbers in that house willing to go
on with the bill. The session had not been a protracted
one because there had been occasions when the session
had extended to the 23d of August. (Oh, oh.) If they
set fairly to the consideration of the bill, it could be dis-
posed of long before that time. He could not believe that
hon. members thought more of the grouse than they did
the education of the children of Scotland. (Hear, hear,
and laughter.)
Mr. BRIGHT urged the house to proceed wtth the
bill, as it would, if passed, remove a difficulty out of the
matters to be discussed next session.

Lord ELCHO thought it would be the wisest course to
pursue not to hurry the bill through at that period of the
session, ar.d therefore he should move that the chairman
do leave the chair.

The house divided, when there appeared—
Ayes
Noes

Majority against the motion

The committee of the bill was then proceeded with, the
house resuming the consideration of the bill at clause 24.
The consideration of the other clauses of the bill occupied
the house up to the hour at which the sitting was
suspended.