15 JULY 1871, Page 3

The attempt of 141r. Dixon (Birmingham) to repeal the cumulative

• voting for Education Boards got soundly beaten on Wednesday, his Bill being rejected without a division. It was opposed by Mr. Collins and Lord Frederick Cavendish, who, in an excellent speech, showing -A complete grasp of the true Liberal principles, remarked that majorities were beginning to think it a great grievance that their opponents should even be heard. The Education League at Birmingham polled about 14,000 votes, or about half the votes given, but were disgusted because they could not command all the seats on the Board. Mr. Morrison followed on the same side, Mr. Vernon Harcourt being almost the only supporter Mr. Dixon .got, and his speech was so weak in its empty sneers at philosophi- cal Liberals that it was almost worse than no support at all. 14.1.r. Baines said the Cumulative vote had worked admirably in the election of the Leeds Education Board, and Mr. Winterbotham (Under-Secretary for the Home Department) characterized this provision as the one provision he had heartily supported in the Bill, as a most " just " arrangement, and one which the experience of the electors had finally determined the country to preserve. Mr. Dixon was nowhere.