EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT (SCOTLAND) (REDHYTHE BURSARIES, &c, FORDYCE). (Hansard, 31 March 1890)

§ (12.16.) SIR C. DALRYMPLE (Ipswich)
I have to move— That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying Her Majesty to withhold Her consent from that part of the Scheme of the Educational Endowment (Scotland) Commissioners for the management of the Endowments in the County of Banff, known as the Redhythe 379 Bursaries, George Smith's Bounty, and the Stuart Mortification, which consists of and is contained in the following words of Section 26 of the said Scheme (that is to say), 'or with the consent of the Governors at any School where higher instruction is efficiently given which the bursar could attend while living with parents or relatives.' In making this Motion I have to state that I have no connection with the locality to which the scheme refers, and have only taken it up on public grounds, with a view of carrying out what was the original view of the Scotch Education Department before that Department was influenced by certain representations made by those who are interested in the locality. The Motion proposes to restore the scheme to the form in which it stood in 1888. There is no question as to the benefit conferred by these bursaries, which were formerly bestowed by patronage, being now extended to the whole county. They are to be open under the scheme to the whole county for competition by students in Banffshire, the one point at issue being whether the parish of Fordyce, which is the original locality of the scheme, should be deprived of the advantage of having the bursars educated there. The Motion I propose is only a, small modification of the scheme, and the effect of the deletion of the words objected to will be that while the benefits of the bursaries are to be extended to the whole county the advantages of education shall not be withdrawn from the parish of Fordyce.

§ *(12.26.) MR. J. A. CAMPBELL (Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities)
I cannot but acknowledge the moderation with which the hon. Baronet has introduced this Motion. He has refrained from introducing a Motion which would 380 involve the rejection of the scheme as a whole, and has merely dealt with one point which has already caused a good deal of discussion in the North. There has been a difference of opinion as to whether the bursars under this scheme should be required to attend school at Fordyce. It appeared to the Commissioners that the competition for the bursaries ought to be thrown open to boys from all parts of the county. It was, therefore, considered reasonable that the Governors should be empowered to dispense with the condition of the bursars all going to Fordyce for their education. On that point there was some difference of opinion; but the Commissioners thought the preponderance of argument was in favour of this extension of power to the Governing Body.

§ (12.28.) MR. HALDANE (Haddington)
I would ask the House to pause before assenting to the proposal of the hon. Baronet. It is worthy of attention that the local opinion not only in the county but in the burghs is not entirely favourable to this suggestion of extended competition. We know that the Commissioners have made considerable inquiry in the locality, and have the advantage of much information which hon. Members have not been in a position to obtain. Moreover, hon. Members for the county and burghs connected with the scheme, acting on representations made by their constituents, are favourable to the scheme. I think, therefore, the House would do well to pause before overthrowing the conclusions at which the Commissioners have arrived.