The discussion on the Education Bill in Committee on Tuesday
was marked by an important announcement from Mr. Birrell. Major Seely having moved an amendment to give owners or trustees of Voluntary schools a right of appeal to the Board of Education against the decision of local authorities who without sufficient reason refused to arrange for the continuance of such schools, Mr. Birrell stated that he was prepared to consider the suggestion. He contended, however, that the obligation could not be one-sided. If local authorities were to be compelled to acquire Voluntary schools, the owners on their side must be compelled to transfer them when that was thought desirable. He accordingly announced that at the report stage, he would bring up a new clause or
amendment to that effect. Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Balfour declined to regard the foreshadowed amendment as a bona-Ale concession, but Mr. Redmond welcomed it as an instalment of the modifications needed to safeguard Roman Catholic schools. The Westminster Gazette of Wednesday, we may add, points out that the amendment, as outlined by Mr. Birrell, is difficult to reconcile with Clause VIII., which appoints the three Commissioners as the Court of Appeal to settle the terms of transfer, and anticipates that in the long run the Opposition will prefer the classe.to the concession.
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