Tt appears to be generally conceded by all who have studied the subject—quite independently of its political bean that our system of primary education Tong since proved defective and needs reorganisation; if therefore this Bill can be so amended as to make it acceptable to members of the established Church, Roman Catholics, Jows, Unitarians and members of minor nonconformist sects alike it will undoubtedly pass and an appeal to the country be avoided. So far as I can understand them the main objects of the Bill are to do away with the present sys-toms of board and voluntary or denominational schools, or rather amalgamate the two and so make the voluntary schools national ones, supported by rates. The present school board it is intended shall be superseded by 2 board of education, but the management of each district will be. mainly entrusted to the various Municipal authorities who will have power to levy rates for the purpose. How religious education is to be provided for appears to be one of the greatest stumbling blocks at the present time. That children should receive it all are agreed, but that it should be that of the Established Church only when the school is attend-members of perhaps some dozen different sects is naturally open to grave objection. Mr. Chamberlain suggests that "religious education shall in no wise be interfered with; let it be left as it has been for the last thirty years, but where a voluntary school is taken over by the board let the same religious instruction be carried on as was intended by the managers or trustees who founded the school." This seems reasonable, but it is doubtful if the nonconformists will agree to it, as they will argue that they are helping to pay for that school out of the rates; in fact the Baptist' community under the guidance of Dr. Clifford threat en that they will decline to pay the rate unless the Teligious clause is settled to their satisfaction.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.