The London Welshman

DR. MACNAMARA ON WALES AND THE EDUCATION ACT. On Friday last, Dr. T. J. Macnamara, M.P., the teachers' representative in the House of Commons, delivered a speech at Cardiff upon "The Future of the Education Act in Wales." At the outset he said that Wales had done more than any other part of the kingdom for educa- tion. In support of this he took the expenditure from local rates on education, and found that in the year 1903 England, excluding London, which was peculiar and unique, was spending on education out of local rates 7d. in the pound on rateable value, Scotland was spending 9'3d. in the pound, and Wales iryd.; or, taking the amount spent per head of the population, he found that for England the amount was 3s. a head, for Scotland 4s. iod., and for Wales 5s. 8¡d. Speaking of the education battle in 4 Wales, he said it was time a truce of God fell upon the belligerents, so that they might get on with what was most dear to their hearts as Welsh Celts-the education of the children of the people. Clearly and obviously the expendi- ture of the public's own money ought to be in the hands of the public. The non-provided schools ought to be brought up to the level of the provided, which would mean that each child would then have spent upon it 6os. a year, speaking roughly. He would give up frankly the endeavour to conduct public elementary education on a dual system. He would give up this non-provided and provided school, and would substitute it by a unified system, the money to support it coming in great bulk from the Exchequer, and a small margin collected from all classes. So far as secular education was concerned, he would not only as to teachers, but as to managers also, put it entirely in the hands of the local authority. If he wanted non- provided buildings, as he probably would, he must pay for them lease them and pay for them for the time he wanted them. As to religious instruction, he would open the school with a common family worship and lesson based upon the fundamental truths of religion as revealed in the Bible. If there were those who did not require that, he would give them the widest liberty. The child whose parents did not desire it to have Religious Instruction could, while the religious instruction was being given to others, be taught something else in another room. As to the other children he would provide facilities for taking them aside under proper safeguards without interfering in any way with the proper conduct of the school and giving them denominational teaching by voluntary teachers. In the Principality a scheme of that kind had been within an ace of being adopted as between his right honourable friend, the President of the Board of Trade and the Bishop of St. Asaph. A scheme like that was, however, actually in operation at Bontnewydd, near Carnarvon, and was, he understood, work- ing harmoniously. He could not be committed to that scheme because he saw one of very great difficulty. The children who did not attend from 9 to 9.45 to get specific religious instruction got no instruction at all. He was a little old-fashioned and wanted the children taught the Bible. He thought there should be an opportunity given to every child to have Bible instruction and the simple family lesson. There seemed to him to be a way out in Wales on the lines of the Bontnewydd concordat or agreement. There was another alternative, and that was a scheme on the lines followed in Scot- land, where the local authority was left to deal with the needs of its locality in a way that was in consonance with the wishes of the people. It seemed to him that a democratic country like Wales was especially a country in which they might try local option

Football Chat. rBy PEL DROED.] London Welsh v. Cardiff.-The meeting between these teams at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, although it did not attract a large attendance of spectators, was productive of some very good football, and those who wit- nessed it greatly appreciated the fine open play that characterised the match. Although Cardiff won by cne goal, three tries, to a goal, or 14 points to 5, there was not that difference between the sides as the scores would seem to indicate. It must be noted, however, that the Cardiffians did not field their strongest side, two second teamers doing duty in the three-quarter line. The features of the game were the brilliant runs of Percy Bush, the Cardiff captain, and the splendid work of the London Welsh captain, A F. Harding. The latter was easily the best forward on the field. Winfield, the Cardiff full back, did good service for his side, and C. E. Lewis played well for London Welsh. Maddocks did not shine on this occasion. It was the general opinion of the Cardiff spectators that the London Welsh have a smarter side this season than they have had for many seasons past. Interesting Opinions.-I notice that a reporter of one of the prominent athletic papers has been interviewing leading Welsh football supporters in reference to the recent great fight between New Zealand and Wales. Two of the opinions will interest readers of the LONDON WELSHMAN. Here they are :—" Dr. W. Llewellyn Davies, Honorary Secretary of the London \Velsh 'I saw the great match at Cardiff on Saturday, and rejoiced in the victory of Wales. I do not think one can judge from the touch line as to Gallaher, but he did not seem to me to be quite legitimate in all he did. Dr. Pryce Jenkins, who is also prominently identified with London Welsh, "was very enthusiastic over the success of Wales. Dr. Jenkins is no lover of the wing forward as impersonated by the New Zealand captain. 'I have noticed,' he remarked, 'that sometimes the ball is put out to Gallaher at the side of the scrum. He is then, in my opinion, offside, as well as being an obstructionist. No, I cannot say I like Gallaher's play as I saw it on Saturday last. As one who also saw the match under review, I am inclined to cordially approve of the views of Dr. Llewellyn Davies and Dr. Pryce Jenkins. New Zealanders in Wales.-N ewport gave the New Zealand team a hard game on Saturday, and came within easy reach of victory. On the day's form the Usksiders were quite equal to the Colonials, and the latter were decidedly lucky to win. The New Zealanders scored 6 points, and Newport 3. There was a big attendance of spectators, and the match was contested in splendid pirit. On Boxing Day the New Zea landers met Cardiff, and won by 10 points to 8.

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