LONDON THE EARL BILL. OF KIMBERLEY: As there is considerable anxiety with reference to the progress of the London University (Commission) Bill, I wish to ask the noble Duke the Lord President of the Council, to whom I have given private notice, whether he can give any information as to the intentions of the Government in regard to the pushing forward UNIVERSITY (COMMISSION) | has filled his Chair for less than ten years. Unfortunately, a case has arisen with reference to the Chair of Biblical Criticism which is an exception, I am glad to say, to the general rule, but which presents considerable difficulties. In the year 1893 that Chair became vacant, and soon after the appointment had been filled-very soon, indeed--unfortunately considerable dissatisfaction was expressed, both by the students and otherwise, with regard to the qualifications of the gentleman who had been appointed to the Chair. My Lords, I do not think it is necessary to go at length into these circumstances, because they form the subject of investigation by the Universities Committee, and also by a Committee of the Privy Council, but the result was that in the year 1896 the Senate of the University and the University Court re of this Bill in the other House? THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (The Duke of DEVONSHIRE): My Lords, I have communicated on this subject with my right honourable Friend the Leader of the other House. The arrangements for business in that House will, of course, depend mainly on the progress of the Irish Local Government Bill. As soon as that Bill is disposed of, my right honourable Friend assures me that the London University (Commission) Bill will have a prominent place amongst those Measures which the Government intend to endeavour to pass during the remainder of the Session. UNIVERSITIES (SCOTLAND) ACTS was commended that the Professor should be retired from his Chair, which at that time he had only occupied for three years, upon a retiring allowance. That resolu tion, on their part, came before Her Majesty in Privy Council, and approved of with this exception, that it was pointed out that there was in the University of Aberdeen no fund upon which the Professor's retiring allowance could be secured. My Lords, that occurred more than a year ago, and since that time the University has been endeavouring to discover some fund upon THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWN: My which they might base this payment, and Lords, this Bill, to which I have to ask secure it to the Professor. In the meanyour Lordships to give a Second Reading, time, of course, the Chair has not been although a public Bill, is put forward on declared vacant. The Professor still -behalf of the University of Aberdeen, to occupies the Chair, although he does not extricate that University from a difficulty deliver lectures. After exhausting all in which it has been placed by an omis-modes of inquiry at their disposal, and sion in the Universities (Scotland) Acts. appealing to the Treasury in vain, the My Lords, by the Universities (Scotland) University came to the conclusion that Acts, it is enacted that, after due investi- the only course-a course which they did gation, and for sufficient cause shown, not think very desirable, but which was the University may call upon a Professor the only course open to them-was to to retire from his Chair, and upon a secure the retiring allowance in this parretiring allowance. My Lords, so far as ticular course upon the emoluments of the University of Aberdeen is concerned, the Chair. My Lords, a Bill to effect there is, under the Statute and under the this object was drawn up. It was apOrdinances which regulate that Univer- proved by the University Court and by sity, no power to pension a Professor who the Senate, and was submitted to the Chancellor of the University and also to Her Majesty's Government. The Bill in itself is a simple one, and consists only of one enacting clause. It provides that "When the University Court, under the powers conferred by the Universities (Scotland). Act, 1858, Section twelve, Sub-section five, and by the Universities (Scotland) Act, 1889, Section six, Sub-section six, has required a Professor to retire from office upon a retiring allowance, and when there are, in the opinion of the University Court, no other available funds from which such allowance can be paid, it shall be lawful for the University Court to make the same chargeable upon the future emoluments of the Chair, and when such requisition to retire from office has been approved by Her Majesty in Council, all the emoluments of the Chair shall from the date of such approval, but so long only as said retiring allowance is payable, be paid and belong to the University Court, for the following purposes, namely, firstly for payment of the said retiring allowance, and secondly, so far as regards the whole emoluments thereafter remaining, for the sole use and occupation of the Professor in office in the said Chair." That, my Lords, is the whole effect of the Bill, and I ask your Lordships to give it a Second Reading. ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time to-morrow. *THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Lord BALFOUR of BURLEIGH): The noble Lord who has brought in this Bill has stated the case for it, so far as I think it is necessary at this stage to state it, CLERGY MUTUAL ASSURANCE SOCIETY with perfect accuracy and completeness. I do not think it is possible for me to add anything to strengthen the case which he has made out for the Bill, and I have no hesitation in saying that I hope BILL. [H.L.] Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time. your Lordships will consent to give it a EASTERN TELEGRAPH COMPANY BILL. Second Reading. Question put. Bill read a second time. THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWN: My Lords, I propose to take the Report tomorrow, and as it is desirable that it should proceed as rapidly as possible, so that the Chair may be filled up, I also propose to ask your Lordships to-mor [H.L.] Read the third time, and passed, without Amendment. EDINBURGH AND LEITH CORPORA- row to allow the Bill to be freed from SAINT MATTHEW, BETHNAL GREEN. the stage of Standing Committee. BILL. [H.L.] Read third time, and passed, without House adjourned at 4.40. Amendment. Earl of Camperdown. UPPER ASSAM TEA COMPANY BILL. [H.L.] CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY BILL Read third time, and passed, without of the Crystal Palace Company Bill, Amendment. WATERFORD CITY GAS BILL. (H.L.] Read third time, and passed, with Amendments. MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton): I think, Sir, that there is a Notice of opposition to this Bill, and in any case I object to its being read a second time to-day. I think it is agreed that the Second Reading should be taken on Thursday. MR. SPEAKER: Yes, Thursday. BOILERS' INSPECTION AND REGISTRA- Midwives' Institute, Obstetrical Society of London, Liverpool, South London (2), and CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN IRELAND. Against From Dunfermline; to lie upon the Table. SALGI PARSHAD. For inquiry into his case: From Salgi Parshad; to lie upon the Table. DOGS REGULATION BILL. Against From Wandsworth; to lie POOR LAW OFFICERS' SUPERANNUAupon the Table. EAST INDIA (CONTAGIOUS DISEASES). Against State Regulation: From Kidderminster, Plumstead, Glasgow, Gateshead, Wilmslow, and Stirling; to lie upon the Table. GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY. For inquiry into management: From Hackney; to lie upon the Table. GROCERS' LICENCES (SCOTLAND) TION (SCOTLAND) BILL. Against From Cathcart; to lie upon the Table. POOR LAW (SCOTLAND) BILL. For alteration: From Cathcart; to lie upon the Table. PRIVATE BILL PROCEDURE (SCOT- In favour: From Forres; to lie upon the Table. In favour: From Ancrum, Leith (2), Aberdeen (2), Fauldhouse, Locharbriggs, Portobello, Alyth (2), Paisley, Edinburgh SALE (2), Peebles, Glasgow (2), Kirkwall, Dunfermline, Kirkcolm, Portpatrick, Car- In favour: From Middlesbrough and luke, and Ballochjargon; to lie upon the Great Yarmouth (2); to lie upon the Table. Table. MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.) I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster : Against: From Stroud; to lie upon General, if he will state the number of the Table. RETURNS, REPORTS, ETC. EDUCATION (ENGLAND AND WALES). Copy presented, of Statement showing (1) the Expenditure from the Grant for Public Education in England and Wales in the year 1897 upon Annual Grants to Elementary Schools; (2) the sub-Post Offices in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, which are situated in premises licensed for the sale of spirits, wine, or beer, specifying the numbers of such as are licensed for the consumption of liquors on the premises, and those licensed for consumption off the premises? 'TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY, Preston): The number of sub-Post Offices ated in premises licensed for the sale of in the United Kingdom which are situspirits, wine, or beer, is approximately as follows:-England, 33 on-licences, 604 off-licences; Wales, 5, 15; Scotland, 23, number of Elementary Schools on the Annual Grant List on the 31st August, 1897; (3) Detailed Statistics of Inspected 71 Ireland, 244, 26; total on-licences, Schools, 1896-7, Public Elementary Day 305; total off-licences, 716. Schools, Evening Continuation Schools, and Certified Efficient Schools, etc.; (4) Tables of Educational Statistics; and (5) Number of School Boards under various Heads of Population [by Command]; to lie upon the Table. ARMY RESERVE. Copy presented, of further Regulations relating to the Army Reserve [by Act]; to lie upon the Table. CONGESTED DISTRICTS IN THE MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty): I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he will state from what townships in the congested districts of the Highlands of Scotland applications for seed potatoes and seed oats have been received by the Congested Districts Board? |