The Irish standard., 1906-07-21
makes the bill worse in the eyes of the

Irish members.
The Chief Secretary had confer
ence of over an hour and a quarters
duration yesterday in his private room
at the House of Commons with Lord
Dunraven, Colonel Poe, Mr.. G. Taaffe
Mr.. George Berkeley and Mr.. w
O'Reilly. representing the Irish Reform
Association. The object of the depu-
tation was to draw the Chief Secre-
tary's attention to the recent circular
of the Irish Reform Association rec
ommending the unitication and the
state control of Irish railways and
the general improvement of the rail-
way facilities of the country. Lord
Dunraven, 1 understand. explained at
length the views of the deputation,
and the Chief Secretary, in the course
of a sympathetic reply, said that the
subject had been engaging the atten-
ton of the Government The proceed
ings We're strictly private, but UNDER
stand that the members of the depu-
the reply given them by the Chief Sec
retary.
The memorial to Sir Nnifrid Lourier
Prime Minister of Canada. setting
forth the claims of Moville to be con-
tinued as e. port of call for the Cana
dian mail steamers, was posted yes
sI>H..
memorial was extensively signed by
Irish Eationalists, Unionists and Scot
tish members, and it is hoped that it
may influence the Canadian Govern
ment to reconsider the suggested aban-
donment of Moville. When feeling was
acutely aroused Il couple of weeks ago
Railway Company owing to the action
of the Board in connection with the
competitive examinations question, the
Irish Nationalists were disposed to- re-
fuse to sign this memorial, but sub
seIuently they decided to support it.
The difference of the Governmental.
point of view in relation to the Irish
and the Welsh language is finely illus
trated by what has happened over the
appointment of Il StaffordShire lnspec-
tor of Mines, Mr.. Atkinson. to be Su-
perintending Inspector of South Wales.
Mr.. Atkinson is an official Of unques-
toned capacity and fitness, but lie does
not speak Welsh. The Welsh members
Immediately protested. the Home Sec
retary was approached, and at once
an effort was made to propiate the
Welsh people Mr.. Atllinson's appoint
ment has not been cancelled but Mr..
Herbert Gladstone intends to appoint
Il Welsh-spcaking inspector to assist
Mr.. Atkinson. At the same time n
promise has been made that no mine
inspectors shall in future be appointed
in Wales unless they speak the Welsh
tongue.
This weeks '"rablet" in discussing
the effect of the Governments decision
with reference to Clause of the Ed
ucation bill. wonders whether Mr.. Bir-
rell thinks Catholics are going to sub
init without Il struggle. This time
il continues, "the Government will have
to deal not with the antics of :: hand
pie. who. If they are driven to it by
injustice, are quite strong enough to
wreck amy Education act Parliament
may pass. 1t shall suffice then to say
here and now. that we will have nothing
to do with these licenses to starve,
that we are not going back to the old
hideous days when our schools were
made dependent upon ping pong
matches and tumble sales. If Parlia-
mcnt takes our rates To support Prot
estant schools. then we call for AN
equality nf treatment i'm regard To the
Catholic schools If Protestant child
rem are To be allowed To receive Prot
eStant religious instruction in the elc-
1nentary schools of the country. and
at the public expense the bareSt JUS
tice requires that Catholic children
should be allowed to receive Catholic
instruction under similar conditions.
That is our last word.''
Tuesday Morning. July 3.
The proceedings on Clause of the
Education bill yesterday showed how
well advised was the Government on
the question of tactics in leaving the
decision to the unfettercd Judgment of
the House. The clause proposed to
give parents the option Of withdrawing
their children from school during the
time set apart for religious instruction
An amendment was moved by Mr.
Walters. one of the Liberal members
for Sheffield seeking to make attend
ance at religious instruction compul-
sorry, subject to Il conscience clause
and on this spirited debate ensued
the opponents of the clause strongl,
lenouncing the Government proposa
as tending to sccularisn and irrelig
ion, and as putting II premium upon tn,
failure of parents to do their duty to
wards their children. This view wa