In Sir Edward Grey's speech the spirit of opposition took,
as it always does with him, its mildest and most moderate form. After some very sensible remarks on the need of having a single local authority for all local affairs, with one local budget, and after arguing that the Government in the Bill were moving away from this ideal—an assertion which we cannot admit—Sir Edward Grey made a specific proposal of considerable importance. In order to meet the complaints of the Nonconformists he would make the Parish Councils partners in the management of education,—subordinate, but partners. "I think a fair compromise would be that, say, two members should represent the Parish Council, that two should represent the local education authority, and that the denomination should appoint the other two." But though the denomination to which the school belonged would thus be
in a minority on the managing hoard, Sir Edward Grey, as we understand him, would place the control of the religious education entirely in the hands of the two denominational managers. This proposal certainly seems reasonable, but we should like to see it discussed more in detail, as it no doubt will be in Committee.
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