§ Lord Wharncliffe, in moving the second reading of the Education of the Poor Bill, said that there were at present a great number of schools with small endowments for the schoolmaster alone, but not available for building or other purposes; no grant in aid could be made by the Committee of Privy Council from the Parliamentary fund, except on certain conditions, and they found the greatest possible difficulty in obtaining those conditions from the trustees of endowed schools. This Bill was intended, therefore, to remedy the difficulty complained of.
§ Lord Cottenhamthought the object of the Bill might be accomplished with less extensive powers than this Bill proposed to give, and the surplus powers might be abused. It would be difficult to modify existing trusts for the purposes of this Bill, without opening the door for further modifications, or even total alterations of the trusts. The third Clause, he observed, was intended to remove a doubt respecting the former Act: but for his part he saw-no such doubt. He also thought that by this measure the principle of the Mortmain Act would be broken in upon.
Lord Broughamagreed with his noble and learned Friend that the Mortmain Act should not be broken in upon lightly; but at the same time there was no danger of fanaticism in school-building or education of the poor rising a very great height.
The Lord Chancellornotified that it was his intention, in the course of a short period to introduce a Bill for removing the misapplication of charitable funds for educational purposes.
Lord Broughamsaid, he was glad to hear this announcement by the noble and learned Lord. It was a measure that was very necessary.
§ Bill read a second time.
§ House adjourned.