LORD SANDHURSTIn rising to call attention to the National Competition of Schools of Art under the Science and Art Department, and to ask the Lord President whether he can furnish any information as to the numbers entered for competition in each of the last five years, the different localities sending up competitors, and the comparative The Marquess of Huntly 1336 quality of the works submitted to the Examiners, said: My Lords, I have been anxiously waiting for the arrival of the noble Lord (Earl Spencer) in whose name this question appears on the paper, but as it was uncertain whether he would be able to attend to-day, ho has asked me to put the question for him, in reference to Technical Education and the system now pursued. It is beyond doubt that the subject of technical education is one of extreme interest, and of great importance, and it is to that that many of our manufacturers look for success in the future in their competition with the manufacturers of other countries. In asking for information as to what opportunities are given to competitors, and what improvement there has been made in this direction, it is as well, perhaps, to examine a little into what has been done in this respect in the country already. Great efforts have been made during the last 30 years to this end. A great Central Museum and School of Art has been established, where every description and form of modelling is to be found, including a gallery of art, where every description of art can be studied. Facilities have also been given to different localities where the various art trades are followed. In addition to the normal school in London, opportunities have been given for obtaining certificates by intending teachers in art schools, which have been founded by the munificence of private individuals, or by the energy of Municipal Councils. The object of this question is to draw attention to an exhibition now being held at South Kensington, which includes exhibits from the provinces and towns throughout the country; for instance, exhibits from the large schools of Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Leicester, and others, from which really very beautiful designs have come. It also includes, I may say, New South Wales, which is prominent for designs and architecture. In drawing attention to this exhibition, I should like to ask the noble Viscount whether, in the opinion of those who are best qualified to form an opinion, a real advance has been made; whether this exhibition may be looked upon as a satisfactory test; and also whether we are getting value for the money expended for this purpose?
§ * VISCOUNT CROSSMy Lords, in the absence of my noble Friend, the Lord President, I will give such information as he has received upon this point from the Science and Art Department. With your Lordships' permission, I will give a few figures, as they not very numerous. Up to 1887 all the works done in schools of art and art classes were sent to South Kensington for payment on results, and in that year the number of them reached 800,000, so it has been found necessary to exclude for the future those of a very slight or elementary nature, as it has become physically impossible to deal with that vast number in the limited space available in the existing buildings. Since then only works of the more finished or advanced kind have been sent up. At the time that restriction came into force the schools were receiving compensation in the way of payments on the third grade examinations held all over the country, which hitherto had been confined to South Kensington, and also a somewhat higher scale of payment for the advanced works and on the second grade examinations. The number of these more finished works has not increased, but the quality of them has improved, and the third grade examinations have also shown a steady advance. In the results of these latter, and in the works submitted in the national competition, the examiners saw a general improvement, and that was notably the case with exercises in designs for manufactures, especially in the large schools of Manchester, Glasgow, and Birmingham, where trades depending on decorative design are extensively carried on. It is much to be desired that those interested in art education, aided by the State, should carefully inspect the works now exhibited at South Kensington, and especially that those who criticise the working of the Department should make themselves acquainted with the kind of work which is encouraged by prizes and payments, and distinguish between it and the amateur or purely pictorial work which the schools are free to turn out, but do not get grants on. It was impossible to get Returns in time to answer the noble Lord's question fully, but, if the noble Lord wishes it, I will 1338 give the best figures available. In 1886 the number of works sent up from Schools of Art for Examination was 324,315; in 1887 the number was 364,986; in 1888, when elementary works ceased to be sent in, the number fell to 78,730; in 1889, however, the number rose to 139,314; and in 1890 the number was 135,651.