Sir Henry Fowler, speaking to his constituents at Wolver- hampton
on Friday, December 11th, made great capital out of the inability of the Government to pass more than two or three of the thirteen measures promised in the Queen's Speech. We have dealt elsewhere with what Sir Henry Fowler had to say in regard to the Agricultural Rating Act, and will only say here that it was of a very partisan character. His references to the Education Bill were hardly more worthy of so able and moderate a man. They contained, however, one admission of importance as to voluntary schools. "Voluntary schools, I admit, are part of our national system of education. I admit that those schools have been put to a very considerably increased cost in consequence of the raising A the standard of education. I am equally willing—and I do not think that there was any responsible leader of the Opposition who did not express the same view in the House —we were equally willing that these schools should have additional relief in order to enable them to meet this additional expenditure." If this is really to be the spirit in which the Opposition will approach the subject, the task of the Government next Session should not be a difficult one. It must be added, however, that Sir Henry Fowler went on to say that all schools, whether Board or denominational, must be put on the same footing as regards help.
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