In November, 1919, a special Commission, presided over by Mr: Asquith, was appointed in England to inquire into the finances of Oxford and Cambridge with a view to a State grant-in-aid. For it was recognized, first, that these ancient Universities play a very great part in the life of the nation and now not only for the rich but for all classes; and secondly, that without some such help, they certainly cannot do the work they have to do, even if they can carry on. Both these facts were well attested by Mr. Asquith's Commission which produced a masterly report last year; and the upshot is the Oxford and Cambridge Universities Bill, which has just passed its third reading in the House. of Commons. An extremely interesting part of the debate was that an amendment was rejected which would have compelled Cambridge to give the same privileges to women that Oxford does. For, since the war, Oxford has given degrees to women; Cambridge still declines
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.