On Wednesday the consideration of the Report stage was completed.
Sir William Anson moved an amendment to the fourth clause, and appealed to the government at the eleventh hour to make it obligatopr on thelocal education authority to grant the religious facilities which parente might desire. The. diseretion which they bad under Manse IV. placed the denominations at their mercy. The Government, however, refused to give way, and the amendment was lost by a majority of 87 (247 to 160). The next struggle was over Mr, Evelyn Cecil's proposal to extend the operation of facilities to other than urban areas. Mr. Birrell, however, stood his ground, 'though he repudiated warmly the allegation that Ks Bill had been framed with the object Of injnrhig"the Church Of England. "To declare that the Bill struck a serious blow at the prestige of the Church was to use language of gross exaggeration." The amendment was accordingly negatived by a majority of 127 (245 votes to 118). At half-past ten the guillotine fell upon the Report stage. The remaining amend- ments were put without debate, ana, finally, the Bill was ordered for third reading. We must repeat what we said last week. The passing of vital portions of so important a measure without adequate debate cannot but be regarded as eminently unsatisfactory, whoever may be the persons most to blame for the fact.
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