28 APRIL 1917, Page 2

The now grant of 13,420,009 for elementary education is to

be paid to Local Authorities, in proportion as they raise adequate sums from the rates, improve the conditions under which their teachers work, and provide for the special needs of the older pupils and for the teaching of special subjects. We are glad to find that Mr. Fisher does not propose to set up a State Corps of teachers, depriving the Local Authorities of all power over their staffs. Local friction and even loeal stupidity its such matters are not such evils as are inherent in an over-centralized system in which White- hall would be all-powerful, and the Education Conamittoos would be concerned only with the merest routine.