SCHOOLS AND RATES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR." J
SIR,—Why should the writer of the article on "Schools and Rates" in your issue of May 10th assume that if two-thirds of the managing committee of a voluntary school were elected by the Parish Council, those two-thirds would all be Noncon- formists, and on that assumption put forward his unwarrant- able assertion that nothing will satisfy Nonconformists but a clear majority of two-thirds, which would virtually control the religious as well as the secular instruction ? Probably at least half of the Parish Council members would be Church- men. But does not the writer's assertion with respect to Nonconformists exactly describe the attitude of the denomi- national supporters of the Bill? They demand an absolutely certain two-thirds majority, so as to control virtually the secular as well as the religious instruction. Contributing in the way of building and repairs a fourth or a fifth of the cost, they want practically all the power. I note that in the "News of the Week" the Spectator says that Sir Edward Grey's suggested compromise of two members representing the denomination, two the Parish Council, and two the local educational authority "seems reasonable," provided that the control of the religious education is placed entirely in the hands of the two denominational managers. I should have thought that the entire control of the religious education by the denomination would have been a sufficient recognition of their rights without giving them any special share in the control of the secular instruction. However, if Sir E. Grey brings forward his very moderate proposal in Committee we shall see what measure of support it receives from Anglicans and Roman Catholics.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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