§ MR. COHENasked the Vice President of the Council, Under what circumstances and for what reason the draft scheme for the administration of St. Olave's Grammar School, which was published in 1877 by the Charity Commissioners, has not been proceeded with?
§ MR. MUNDELLASir, I have communicated with the Charity Commissioners as to the draft scheme for St. Olave's Grammar School, and I have been furnished with a memorandum stating in great detail the reasons why the proceedings in regard to the scheme have been suspended. It appears that the scheme is objected to not only by the existing Governors, but by nine other public Bodies. To some of these objections it is impossible for the Commissioners or the Education Department to yield. For instance, it is opposed to the principle of all modern educational endowment schemes to establish a system of indiscriminate gratuitous education without regard to merit; and this is one of the main objections urged against the scheme. I am authorized by the Charity Commissioners to say that they have always been willing, and they are now ready, to proceed with the scheme, providing the Governors and the objecting Bodies will concede these questions of principle. Of course, if no agreement can be arrived at, the Commissioners may act on the authority vested in them.