12 JULY 1902, Page 3

On Wednesday Mr. Balfour made an even more important modification

in the Bill by agreeing to Mr. Henry Hobhouse's proposal that the option clause should be struck out and that the Bill should be compulsory,—i.e., the new local education authorities will now in all cases be obliged to undertake the provision of elementary as well as secondary education. When the Bill was first introduced, we expressed our dis- agreement with the option being given, and are glad that the Government has changed its mind. Mr. Balfour, when the division was taken on Mr. Hobhouse's Motion, left it open to Unionists to vote for or against it. The result was that the Motion was carried by 169 votes (271 to 102).