Last night the Education Bill passed its second reading by 402 votes against 165. The big musority 's, of course, mainly due to the Irish Nationalis's having thrown in their lot with the Government, the Roman tholies and the Anglicans being at one in their distrust of undenominational education. That the Bill has been large framed in the interest of the Churc schools is not seriously denied; and the extreme section of the Nonconformists are so incen-ed that they threaten to refuse payment of the Education rate if the Bill is carried. At the same time, there are a number of Liberals who are so impressed with the necessity of entrusting primary, secondary, and technical education to a single authority—which is the main purpose of the Bill—that they are inclined to accept the measure and amend it in committee. There is-a strong feeling, even among many Conservatives, t the pro to abolish the School n the County Boroughs; and easily as they have passed the measure through this stage, e Government will have some serious op. position to meet in committee. It is very probable, however, that they will smooth the way of the Bill by making some concessions. Dr. Macnamara, who is an ex-teacher and ex-President of the National Union of teachers, has put forward a not unreasonable scheme by which all the smaller School Boards might be abolished and their powers handed over to the County Councils, while the County Borough School Boards should be retained in existence with extended powers. As to those who would like to see a really national system of education, most of them acknowledge that the extinction of the voluntary schools would be far too oustly an operation, even if there were not other difficulties besides that of expense. And rate aid has me an absolute necessity if the voluntary schools are to be kept alive.
The King's Dinner So many offers of assistance in connection with the King's dinner to the poor have been made wud accepted that his Majesty's half-million guests will probably receive a feast and mementos of one kind and another amounting in value to twice the }00 which, in addition to the cost of the King's Cups, his Majesty is devoting to the Celebration,' The lake gift, made anonynously, is one of a gorgeous invitation card, will take six weeks to Dee, Te has been which will require eight printings and suggested that the money which this will more substantially benefit the poor guests; cost might be spent la a way which would but those who are in urgent need of money will no doubt be able to dispose of their tickets ata very fair price to collectors of Coronation mementoes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.