[BILL NO. 56.] SECOND READING. (Hansard, 26 May 1862)

THE LORD ADVOCATE
said, it was not his intention to move the second reading of this Bill, but, on the contrary, to move that the order be discharged. He wished shortly to state his reasons for taking that course. He certainly should not have been deterred from proceeding with the Bill by the criticisms that had been made in Scotland on the subject; for although there were many objections urged against the Bill, yet they were of a nature so much connected with its details, and were in themselves so inconsistent, that they rather confirmed him in his impression that the provisions of the Bill were fair to the country in general, and did not lean improperly on any section of the community. That the Bill made extensive changes was true; and it was true that several sections of the community, the Established Church and the Free Church, were in turn affected by it. But that effect would have been, he thought, for the public benefit. Even the composition, of the Commission that was to carry the Bill into operation had been made a ground of opposition to it. It was said that the Commission was composed of persons who were otherwise occupied. He wondered that objection was never raised to the University Commissions of 1826 and 1858 which consisted almost wholly of Gentlemen with a large practice at the bar or of Cabinet Ministers, and hardly at all of persons who could be supposed to have much leisure. He thought he should have been entirely wrong if he had not followed the same course. The country would not have been satisfied if the important interests involved had been intrusted to men not already in possession of marked public confidence by being in positions of responsibility. But, looking at the difficulties of the question, and the differences of opinion in Scotland upon it, he had thought it right, before proceeding to the discussion of the Bill that evening, to ascertain the opinion of the representatives of Scotland. He found, though there was a general feeling in favour of the measure, that there were difficulties in some quarters not easy to surmount. He thought it undesirable that he should place his hon. Friends in a position of difficulty unless 2195 he saw a reasonable prospect of success. Finding that such, a prospect could not be reasonably entertained, it would not be right, either to the House or to his hon. Friends, to enter into a discussion of something of a party character without any real practical advantage. He could have wished that he had been allowed to read the Bill a second time, in order that he might have been enabled to reprint it with amendments which had been suggested by the discussions, that had taken place, but he found that course was objected to by hon. Members opposite. Therefore, he should give notice that he would move for leave to introduce a Bill with a similar title, for no other purpose than merely to show to the country the shape in which it was intended ultimately the Bill should have been presented. The proposal of the noble Lord (Lord H. Scott) for a previous inquiry into the question was not a new one; and in the course of the summer the Government would consider whether any course of that kind could be adopted. It was thought by many friends of education in Scotland that the present opportunity might never recur of placing the whole system on a proper footing. But if an inquiry were instituted into the state of education, it would embarrass the whole question. There were many parts of the system this measure was not intended to touch; but it would be impossible to except any part of it from the inquiry. He very much regretted the course which his duty to the House compelled him to take, but he was induced, for the reasons which he had stated, to move that the order be discharged.

§ LORD HENRY SCOTT
said, he had given notice of a Resolution, as an Amendment, to the effect that legislation was inexpedient until the House was in possession of more accurate information on the subject of education in Scotland. He could not, therefore, but express his gratification at the course pursued by the learned Lord Advocate, which he thought would give satisfaction throughout Scotland, as the objections to the Bill were general in that part of the kingdom. It was condemned by the General Assembly, and by a Committee appointed to consider it. Only one county had petitioned in its favour, fourteen counties had petitioned against it, and the remainder wished a full inquiry. No one would more readily acquiesce in a complete investigation than himself; and if the Bill had been perse- 2196 vered with, he would have been prepared with statistics in support of the Amendment.

§ MR. BLACK
said, he was quite sure that the public of Scotland would be much disappointed when they found that the Bill was withdrawn. The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland was against every liberal measure. When it was proposed to repeal the university tests they unanimously petitioned against it, and they were only acting in character when they opposed the Bill before the House.

§ MR. BLACKBURN
said, he did not think it expedient to enter into a discussion upon education at that time, but he rose to express his opinion that the Lord Advocate had taken the wisest and best course in withdrawing this Bill. He was sure, that if the right hon. and learned Gentleman would only propose a measure to extend the parochial system, it would meet with support from both sides of the House.

§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITH
said, he rose to order. He had always understood that when a Motion was made to discharge the order on a Bill a debate could not be raised upon it.

§ MR. SPEAKER
said, it was inconvenient that any lengthened debate should arise in such a case, but he would remind the hon. Member that there was a question before the House.

§ MAJOR CUMMING BRUCE
said, he could assure his right hon. Friend that the friends of the parochial system in Scot land courted every inquiry, and believed that the more it was inquired into the better it would be for them.