§ House in Committee (according to Order).
§ Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to.
§ Clause 3 (Repeal and substitution of other provisions for 18 & 19 Vict. c. 34 (Denison's Act).
§
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON moved, in page 2, line 5, to leave out
("a certificated child within the meaning of 'The Agricultural Children Act, 1873,' whose certificate is for the time being in force") and insert ("employed in pursuance of a certificate under 'The Agricultural Children Act, 1873,' and is not attending school.")—(The Lord President.)
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Amendment made.
§ Clause, as amended, agreed to.
§ Clauses 4 to 9, inclusive, agreed to.
§ Clause 10 (Amendment of 33 & 34 Vict. c. 75. s. 57. as to loans).
§ LORD CHELMSFORDmoved to add a proviso, that the consent of the Education Department to loans should be conditional on proof by the school board of the necessity of additional accommodation. This proviso was required to meet cases such as had already occurred where a narrow majority of a school board had attempted to saddle a parish with a loan for new schools where the existing accommodation was both efficient and sufficient. In this case, the Department, while refusing to recommend the application to the Public Works Loan Commissioners, declared its inability to prevent the borrowing of money in the open market, and this proviso would give them the required discretion.
§
Amendment moved, page 4, line 19, after ("fund") add—
Provided, that no such consent of the Education Department shall be granted unless proof be given to their satisfaction that the additional school accommodation which it is proposed to provide and the works which it is proposed to execute are necessary in order to supply a sufficient amount of public school accommodation for the district."—(The Lord Chelmsford.)
§ THE MARQUESS OF RIPONobjected to the proposed proviso as imposing a needless obligation in cases where additional schools were obviously desirable. The distinct recommendation of the Department was essential to a loan by the Public Works Commissioners; in the eases of other loans it did not exercise so close a control, but accepted primâ facie evidence for the scheme, unless there was distinct proof to the contrary. In the case referred to, the school board had made a Return showing the need of further accommodation.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYfeared the facility of borrowing would bring embarrassments on the ratepayers of the future. Both in education and other matters a check was required, and if a school board had evidence satisfactory to themselves, they could communicate it to the Department.
§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY and LORD LYTTELTONsupported the Amendment, as a safeguard in doubtful cases.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ The Report of the Amendments to be received To-morrow; and Standing Orders No. 37. and 38. to be considered in order to their being dispensed with; Bill to be printed, as amended. (No. 265.)