§ 6. £517,847, to complete the sum for Public Education, Ireland.
§ MR. SEXTONIt has been understood that the discussion of this Vote, and also of the Queen's Colleges for Ireland, may be taken on the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill. That is what I understand the First Lord of the Treasury to have arranged.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH,) Strand, WestminsterI am perfectly ready to confirm the statement of the right hon. Gentleman, that it was arranged that these discussions should be raised on the Appropriation Bill. I do not understand the right hon. Gentleman to suggest that these discussions will be very brief, and I think, under the circumstances, it will be better to take them on Monday when the Appropriation Bill is read a second time.
§ Vote agreed to.
§ 7. £892, to complete the sum for the Teachers' Pension Office, Ireland.
§ 8. £400, to complete the sum for the Endowed Schools Commissioners, Ireland.
§ 9. £1,701, to complete the sum for the National Gallery of Ireland.
§ 10. £7,528, to complete the sum for Queen's Colleges, Ireland.
§ MR. BLANE (Armagh, S.)There have been considerable complaints with regard to these Queen's Colleges; and it is stated that, at the last examination, they were beaten by two private schools. This being so, it would seem as if a considerable portion of the large expenditure for these colleges is wasted.
§ MR. SEXTONPerhaps my hon. Friend will allow me to suggest that it would be better to postpone any further discussion on this Vote until Monday next.
§ MR. BLANEIn consequence of the request of my right hon. Friend, I will reserve what I have further to say upon this subject until Monday.
§ Vote agreed to.
§ 11. £1,000, to complete the sum for the Royal Irish Academy.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI think some attention ought to be called to the county histories of Ireland and the large collection of manuscripts which have been lying in cases in the Academy for the last 30 or 40 years. I think the conduct of the Government in not having provided a small grant of money to enable these valuable manuscripts to be printed and rescued from oblivion is open to some complaint.
§ MR. A. O'CONNORI quite agree that something should be done for the better care of these records of historical events.
§ Vote agreed to.