Notes

Abstract

IN the King's Speech at the opening of Parliament on Monday reference was made to the following matters, among others, to be brought forward during the session:—A guarantee from the Imperial Exchequer of a loan by the Government of the Sudan; for the development therein of the industry of cotton-growing: proposals for the better care and control of the feeble-minded and for the further restriction of the industrial employment of children; proposals for the development of a national system of. education. In the course of his comments upon the last-named subject, Lord Crewe remarked, in the House of Lords, that it is not the intention of the Government to endeavour to force through Parliament in this session a vast measure dealing with national education. “But in view of what has fallen from the Prime Minister, and also in view of the observations made by the noble and learned lord on the Woolsack at Manchester in the beginning of January, which were the sequel to a close inquiry into the subject, we think it is quite proper to place the country in possession of the general lines of our intentions during the coming session, although I do not suppose that we shall be able to proceed very far towards getting them carried into law. We have not embarked on the consideration of the question without counting the cost or without realising that it will be necessary to provide more than is provided at present out of national funds towards the cost of education.”