(NO. 155.) COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 21 June 1886)

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDON
, in moving an Amendment to provide that the University of Aberdeen and the University of St. Andrew's should each be represented on the Medical Council by one member, instead of collectively sending one member, as was proposed, said, he must confess he was very much astonished to find the Lord President of the Council treating the University of Aberdeen in the way he had done, by linking it with St. Andrew's in sending a representative to the Medical Council. This was the only case where the Universities were bracketed; while he found that the Bill proposed to give one member each to the University of Durham and Victoria University. It seemed to him somewhat odd that the Victoria University of Manchester, which received its Charter in 1878, should have separate representation, and be taken out of its union with Durham University. By bracketing St. Andrew's and Aberdeen Universities, the last-named founded in 1491, a slight was thrown upon this body which was undeserved. The Medi- 23 cal School of Manchester was still in embryo; but it was generally conceded that there was no better Medical School in the Kingdom than that which existed in the University of Aberdeen. Aberdeen was the only University in the whole United Kingdom which was proposed to be dealt with in this manner; and he thought the two English Universities should be bracketed in the matter of representation as originally proposed, rather than those of Aberdeen and St. Andrew's. He could not understand what could have induced the Lord President of the Council to cast such a slur on the University of Aberdeen, of which he (the Duke of Richmond and Gordon) had the honour to be Chancellor. He would, therefore, ask their Lordships to accept his Amendment, and to insert in the clause the words "the University of Aberdeen and the University of St. Andrew's." Moved, in page 5, to leave out lines 3, 4, 5, and 6, and insert ("The University of Aberdeen." "The University of St. Andrew's.")—(The Duke of Richmond and Gordon.)

THE EARL OF MILLTOWN
said, he hoped that the House would not accept the Amendment moved by his noble Friend (the Duke of Richmond and Gordon). Nothing could be further from the intentions of the framers of the Bill than to cast any slur upon the Universities of Aberdeen and St. Andrew's. The question of the number of representatives of each part of the United Kingdom had been discussed, and after great difficulty a compromise had been agreed upon by which England was to have eight, Scotland six, and Ireland five representatives. If the proposal of the noble Duke were carried it would entirely upset this arrangement. The Universities of England were to have five Members, those of Scotland three, and those of Ireland only two; but if the Amendment should be agreed to, he would propose that the University of Dublin should have two members, instead of one, on the Council.

THE DUKE OF ARGYLL
, in supporting the Amendment, said that, speaking on behalf of Scotland, he should not object to Ireland having any number of representatives on the Board, if she had as many Bodies qualified to examine as Scotland had. It was entirely a question of the number of University and 24 other Bodies in the United Kingdom capable of examining in medicine. Nationality had nothing to do with the question, and if Scotland had a large number of representatives it was only in consequence of the great number of Universities and Schools of Medicine that she possessed.

§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Earl SPENCER)
said, that he was unable to accept the Amendment of the noble Duke, because his doing so would cause a great deal of dissatisfaction, and raise difficulties and objections which were now set at rest. The noble Duke opposite had charged him with showing want of respect for the University of Aberdeen. He had no desire whatever to do that; but if he had done so the noble Duke himself had done the same in former years, because in two Bills which the noble Duke proposed Aberdeen was linked with St. Andrew's. Aberdeen had never had distinct representation, but had always been linked with another University. The Amendment, if adopted, would not only destroy the balance between the three countries; it would also destroy the balance between the different Corporations and Universities, and cause great difficulty. Moreover, there was a section of the Bill which enabled the Privy Council at any future time to increase the direct representation, and, if it should think fit, to give any University distinct and separate representation. He trusted that the noble Duke would be content with that clause, and would withdraw his Amendment.

THE EARL OF ROSSE
said, he was entirely opposed to the Amendment, contending that there was very great objection to making the alteration proposed.

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDON
said, he should go to a division.