In the House of Commons on Thursday Mr. Gray moved
the adjournment in order to call attention to the action of the East Ham Borough Council in regard to the Education Act. Mr. Gray argued in favour of making education a national charge. Dr. Macnamara, on the other hand, opposed such a course, though he was of opinion that necessitous areas should receive further help from the State. Mr. Balfour, who replied for the Government, declared emphatically that it was impossible to recognise the validity of the demand made by East Ham Nor was he in favour of placing the whole charge for education on the National Exchequer. Already the State contributed between sixty and seventy per cent. of the cost. Much beyond that limit it would not be safe to go, as all inducement to economy on the part of local authorities would be swept away. The illegal policy threatened by the East Ham Borough Council raised issues going to the very root of our system of taxation and administration. The Government could not tolerate on the part of any public authority the abandonment of the duties imposed on it by Parliament. On a division the House negatived the Motion by a majority of 43 (159 to 116).
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