On Thursday night, after Mr. Stuart had moved an amend-
ment to confine the new Education Authority to secondary education, Sir W. Harcourt proposed to the Government to drop the part of the Bill creating an Authority that was in- tended in many cases to supplant School Boards, to give the new grant-in-aid to voluntary schools, subject to reasonable con- ditions for popular management, and then to proceed with the Bill with the help of the Opposition at a much more rapid pace. Of course this condescending offer was declined by Mr.Balfour, and though Sir J. Kennaway, from the Conservative benches, kindly advised the Government to drop the Bill, Mr. Morton's proposal to report progress was rejected by a majority of 123 (254 to 131), the Closure was voted by a majority of 114• (256 to 142), and Mr. Stuart's amendment was rejected by a majority of 131 (258 to 127). We feel little doubt that Mr. Balfour will reconsider his wish to have no autumn Session,. and that an autumn Session will be held to secure the passing of the Bill. All the wild talk of " the stranded whale," and "more harpooning "—Sir William Harcourt's harpoons have- all missed fire—is pure nonsense. The stranded whale will get off, and the main provisions of the Bill will be carried to the general advantage of the country.
Previous page
