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DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION BILL.
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DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION BILL. The Na-tional Union of Teachera assembled at the Albert-hall, Swansea, on Tues- day morning for their seoond session. The session commenced at ten o'clock. The body of the hall was well filled when the president (Mr. C. J. Addiscott) took the chair. Previously to the meeting the annual breakfast of the National Temperance League took place in the Shaftesbury-hall, when addresses were delivered by Principal Roberts, Aberystwith (who presided), Miss Hughes (Cam- bridge), Dr. Rawlings, Mr. Addiscott (president of the N.U.T.), and others. At the conference subsequently Mr. Addiscott (president) was supported on the platform by Mr. Macnamara (ex-president), Mr. Gray, M.P., Mr. Yoxall, M.P.. and a number of members of the executive committee. MORE CONGRATULATIONS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES. Letters were read by the President from the teachers of Denmark, and the president and secretary of the teachers of Hungary, offering their congratulations to the Swansea Conference of the N.U.T. (Applause.) NEXT PLACE OF MEETING. The Chairman then announced that there would this time be an agreeable departure from the usual custom, and he would not announce the next place of meeting himself, but would oall upon Dr. Ward Humphreys, of Chelten- ham, to do so. It should be stated that invitations had been received from the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Cheltenham and from the North Staffordshire Association. The North Stafford- shire Association had withdrawn in favour of the invitation from Cheltenham. Dr. Ward Humphreys, on rising, was received with loud applause. He said he came there to offer them a very hearty welcome to Cheltenham in 1898. The speaker then mentioned briefly what attractions Cheltenham had to offer, stating that the town had greatly improved of late years. Cheltenham was by some regarded as the garden town of England. Dr. Humphreys, after allud- ing to what Cheltenham had done in the way of education, said the people of that town appre- ciated to the full the vastness of the interests committed to the teachers' care, and thoroughly understood the importance of the question of education, the best interests of which were fostered by them. (Applause ) Mr. F. F. Wheeler also offered Cheltenham's welcome. The President then formally moved that Cheltenham be selected for next year's confe- rence, and it was carried' by acclamation. ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE The President here announced the result of the election of the executive, the following being successful: RIchard Waddington, Thomas Clancy, Thomas Ellery, Bhadrach Hicks, Allen Croft, Tom John. Marshall Jackman, Isabel Cleghorn, James F. Blacker, John 'Charles Horobin, Charles Bowden, John James Graves, Robert Wild, Arthur Augustus Thomas, George Beach, Frederick Peaker, Charles Herbert Moore, Harry Coward, Annie Georgina Selvage, George Sharpies, F. F. Wheeler, Thomaa H. Jones, William Muscott, Agnes L. Browne, and Francis Barkham Gale. DRAWING REQUIREMENTS. Mr. J. E. Smith (Bristol) moved and Mr. W. T. Crank seconded: That this conference is of opinion that the regulations for drawing should be re- vised-(a) To lessen the requirements generally, (b) to relieve the pressure specially on small schools; (c) to provide that no child be expected to learn more than two subjects m any one year; (d) to arrange for the inspection of the subject at the visits of her Majesty's inspector instead of by special examination." The resolution was passed. THE EDUCATION QUESTION.— IMPORTANT DEBATE. Mr. T. Clancy (Portsmouth) then proceeded to move the following important resolution sub- mitted by the executive:—"That this conference whilst recognising with thanks the good inten- tions of the Government in the Voluntary Schools Act, 1897, regrets that the sum provided for the relief of voluntary schools is altogether inadequate to meet the needs of the schools that conference expresses a si-neere hopa that the Education Department will, bv its regula- tions, secure (1) that the increased" aid shall be specifically earmarked for the purpose of improving the number, quality, a.nd remunera- tion of the teaching staff, and generally for increasing the efficiency of the school, and (2) the audit of all school accounts by a public auditor; that conference deplores the introduc- tion into the Act of oompulsory federation of schools, believing it to be unnecessary, calcu- lated to diminish local effort on behalf of individual schools, and likely to create a class of officials inimical to true educational elas- ticity that conference yiews with anxiety the repeal of the Us. 6d. limit, believing that in effect the repeal will tend to reduce the local income of schools from subscriptions -and rates, and also to induce managers to add to the already over-burdened curriculum of schools, and calls upon the Education Department to secure by stringent regulations that these injuries to the schools shall be prevented; that it is essential that such regulations may be made as will, if possible, prevent the substitution of the special aid grant for any portion of the existing income; that the aid grant should be paid quarterly, as in the case of the fee grant i that if aid be extended to associated .schools at different; a! r-ites, rural and small schools should receive the first cons: deration ;• that conference regrets that the measure was not so amended in its passage through the Hcive as to secure some amount of public representation on the mnnaRe- 'I memt of the schools; that conference trusts that the department will make such regulations as will give to teachers of federated schools the right of representation on the governing bodies; that conference regrets that the following amendment to the measure was not adopted: — 'N) teacher employed in a school which reaves aid under this Act shall be required to perform any dutv other than teaching m school and the instruction of pupil teachers therein.' In moving the resolution Mr. Clancy said he did not appear before tl em as a voluntaryist or a boa.rdist-(hear hear)-but as a. teacher- (hear, hear)—and he wished to point out that, whilst they sincerely thanked the Government for having given them half a loaf, they were at the sama time dkappainted the Government had not gone so far as they could while thev were at it. He desired to emphasize the fact that e in their late programme they laid it down that there should be nothing to differentiate between board and voluntary schools as such; and, although he worked in a voluntary school, ho W"d13 extren elv sorry that this dis- tinction should be made between one set ef schools and another. He believed there had been tinkering with the whole ques- tion of education, which bad not been grappled with as it should have been. Instead of taking the whole maintenance of the child under con- trol it had simply patched up the educational fabric. What had the National Union striven to do? It had tried to amend the Bill as ( much u powatHe, and to see that the money was devoted for the purpose to which it was intended, but he Mid ii, to their eternal shame, that the members of the House of Commons had sent the Bill out without the alteration of a single comma—(applause)—and when he saw his fellow voluntary teachers boasting and pro- fessing in the lobb- that they wanted the Bill without alteration he was ashamed. (Applause.) What would the teachers get out of the Bili? ("Hear, hear," and cries of "Nothing.") Had any one of their planks been inserted? ("No.") Had any of their extraneous dutes been abolished? ("No.") He expressed the opinion that no teacher should be answerable for any work outside the four walls of his school. (Hear, hear.) Now, take the question of money. The speaker was a. Catholio teacher, and he was ashamed to say that the Catholic teachers of the country were paid miserahly small stipends—("Shame")—for doing a gcod work—(hear, hear)—in training the little children under their care to be ideal men amd women. (Applause.) He was not satisfied that they should be content to receive £20 a year less than was paid to voluntary teachers in the Church schools or to teachers in the board schools. The question was largely a financial one, and would not be settled until all teachers received salaries proportionate to the work they were doing. (Hear, hear.) As if they were not sufficiently throttled already, an attempt was now being made to bring in oompulsory federation to give to an irre- sponsible body full power over the teaohers. Dealing with the question of the audit, he declared it was not satisfactory. There were ti> chers, he was sorry to say, who gave receipts tor salaries they did not receive. ("Shame.") Money which was given for an educational pur- pose was diverted from that object. They knew it was paid sometimes for the use of Sunday schools, for hymns, for the payment of care- takers, and sometimes for the payment of clerics. ( Shame.") While they thanked the Govern- ment for what it had done, they agreed that there were certain loopholes in the measure. (Applause.) Dr. Beach (Macclesfield) seconded, and said events hastened the time when the Government would support all schools out of their funds. His cheetcs burned with indignation when he heard clergymen from their pulpits ask for charity for the education of the working man's child. The total cost of all secular instruction unquestionably ought to be defrayed out of the taxes. (Applause.) He maintained that it would be wise to include in the resolution their thanks to the present Government. (Seme diseent.) Thay should consider the question from the point of view of superannuation. They did not want to hit too much at the Govern- ment—("Hear, henr." and a laugh)—or set their backs up. They were easily disposed to burke the question or to put it off as it was. He could not see how they could get more than half these councils or federations composed of the laity. He placed no trust in the clergy in this matter. He was not villifying the clergy as a body. He did not denounce the ministers of God, but the proud priest who tried to saturate the mind with subservience to sacerdotalism. Did they think these clergy would disregard the reports of the diocesan inspectors? He was happy to eay, as a. national school naster, that he never allowed a diocesan inspector to come into his school. Ho asked them unanimously, and with all the force they could, not merely to pass this resolution, but to use all their influence in the same direction. Mr. Gilham (Greenwich) moved an amend- ment omitting the first words giving thaaks to the Government for the Voluntary Schools Bill, lie thought it would be fatal to the influence and power of the Union in the country if they passed such a resolution. The words had been inaerted by the executive as an amendment to the original resolution, but it was a mistake. To thank the Government for their good inten- tions was nonsense. It was time they asserted themselves if they wanted to get anything Mr. Bowers (West Lambeth) seconded," and mamtaaned that this Bill put the majority of the teachers of voduntcry schools under the hceis of the clergy, and he maintained that they might not to thank the Government for that. Dr. Beach had tried to stir them up in the matter. To do what ? To show up the Govern- ment And yet, at the same time, he seconded a resolution thanking the Government. The g-reat Dr. Bcach—(laughter)—could wrJte splendid r»nffbsh, and was a. master of arts and sciences, and he was consequently surprised to see him come there to make such an illogical speech. They, most of them, made no pretence to great learning. like Dr. Beach—(laughter)— but they had just a little common-sense, and he asked them to use it on that occasion. (Lantrhter and applause). Mr. Whittaker (Blackburn), who supported tne amendment, stigmatised the Bill as the Archbishop off Canterbury's Bill, and said the teachers had had nothing to do with it. There would be no proper solution of the education question except eduoation by the State. Mr. T. Hurden (East London) said if this resolution was a sample of the ability of the executive it was no wonder that their Parlia- mentary representatives, Mr. Yoxall and Mr. Gray, had been unable to alter the slightest item hi the Bill.. If the executive took a strong straight line, and had the confidence of their scions, they would exercise more weight. (The remainder of the speech was lost in dis- turbance. ) Mr. Maetiamara said there had been a good deal of feeling evoked over this matter. One party did not want to thank the Government; the other did- But both parties were convinced of the defects in the Bill. They could not all se-i eye. to eye on the executive, and all thought they were chairmen in their way—(laughter) but they must remember that united they would stand, but divided they would fall. What was the odds about Tories and Liberals? (Cheers.) He himself WM prepared to thank tho Government. Why split themselves upon a matter like this? It would be said that striking out that clause was a slap at the Government, They were on the eve of a lot of things, and they could not all express their individual feelings. He mivOt like to have a slap at many people from Lord Salisbury down to Athelstan Riley—(laughter)—but he was not going to do it ju^t now they had got the Government; it was aent in by the people of England, and they would have to ero can in hand to it for a lot of things. (Laughter.) Didn't they want superannuation? (Laughter.) He did. (Re_ newed laughter.) They had done this for the sake of unity; and for the sake of the Union, which it had taken 27 years to build up, he asked them the pass the resolution as it stood. Mr. B. South (Manchester) also spoke. A number of other delegates rose, but the President eaid he had a motion, that the ques- tion be put now. (Applause.) This was put and was carried almost unani- mously. The resolution was then put and was carried with an overwhelming majority. The vote being challenged by a paper signed by thirteen members, and a di-u^on being asked for, the President said that 50 delegates must rise in their places to support this, and he now called upon them to do so. A few delegates rose, but the President said the number was not sufficient—(applause)—and called upon the mover of the next resolution. ANOTHER EDUCATION RESOLU- TION. Mr. M. Jackman (Herne Hill) moved, and Mr. F. Peaker (Leeds) seconded:- "That this conference, while regarding with satisfaction the attempt made by the Govern- ment in the Elementary Education Act (1870) Amendment Bill to provide relief for necessi- tous school board districts, regrets that the amount set apart tor that purpose is totally in- adequate, and further regrets that the addi- tional aid to necessitous board schools has not been given at the rate of 5s. per child as in the Voluntary Schools Act." Mr. Wilkinson (Knuteford) moved as an amendment that all words after "inadequate" be struck out. Mr. Hurden seconded. Mr. Gray, M.P., explained that there were a certain number of school boards which would receive 9s. per child. It was the opinion of the conference that no school board should receive more that 5s. a. child. that was not the intention of tbë r\af utive iri the matter. The intention was that the aggregate sum should be determined by the aggregate amount of 5s. per child to the whole of the children in the whole of the board schools, whether necessitous or not. Whilst the voluntary schools should receive £600.000, the boards would take something like £400,000 for their necessitous schools only. The result wculd be that districts like Nottingham, West Ham, and Leeds would receive sums greater than they could obtain under the Bill. The Bill was founded on a very intricate sliding-scale, and any tampering with the scale would lead them into very serious difficulties indeed. The State might be actually giving to the same districts more than it expended on the eduoation. As long as they retained the sliding-scale basis it would be difficult to arrive at the actual amounts paid. He should explain that this resolution referred to the a-Tgregate amounts, not the amounts paid in individual school districts. In regard to Mr. Hurden's somewhat cynical comments on the conduct of the executive. Mr. Cray remarked thst. it would have been difficult for the executive to frame resolutions at the time the agenda appeared, as the Bill had not then bsen introduced. (Laughter.) The execu- tive took the earliest opportunity—at a meeting nn Monday morning, when they ha.d the Bill before them—to draw up a resolution, which he hoped the conference would unanimously accept. Mr. Burden thereupon withdrew his second- ing of the amendment, but it was subsequently put and lost. A suff^estion that the word "aggregate" be introduced before "5s." was acceded by the mover and seconder, and the resolution was subsequently put and carried. SECONDARY EDUCATION IN WALES. Miss Be^e Hughee (of the Ladies' Day Train nc College at Cambridge) was here intro- duced to the conference. As one deeply inte- rested in elementary and scondary education in Wales she that there was not a single woman on the Educational Board at Whitehall, which was not representative cf the majority of Welsh teachers. She suggested a central board much more representative and also more elastic than the present Education Department. (Applause.) PAYMENT OF GRANTS. On the motion of Mr. Alien Croft (No'tmg- ham) seconded bv Miss Selvage (Lincoln), the following resolution was carried:—"That, as space, building, and material, and teaching have to be provided or given to all on books, •1 the grants shall be paid on the number on books, such number to be found by dividing number on books for each qua.rter of school year by four." KINDERGARTEN AS A CLASS SUBJECT. Mr. Amner (for Mrs. Coles) proposed a reso- lution asking the department to place kinder- garten in infant schools among the class sub- jects, in order that a grant may be obtained for it. Mr. Waddington was in favour of a uniform fixed grant, without any regard to the ques- tion of class subjects. Miss Livesey (Wigan) and Miss A. L. Brome opposed the resolution, which was rejected by the conference. THE M.A. COURSE AT LONDON UNIVERSITY. Mr. T. Cartwright, B.A. (East Finchley), proposed, Mr. J. G. Timer (Mildmay Park, London) seconded. and it was agreed—"That the London University be urged to assist in popularising the study of the art, theory, his-tory, and philosophy of education by making such a course one of the subjects for the M.A. course." REPRESENTATION ON WELSH UNI- VERSITY COURT. Mr. Tom John (Llwynypia) moved the Al- lowing resolution, which emanated from the Mertbyr and Dowlais district :That, in the opinion of this conference of National Union of Teachers assembled at Swansea, the charter of the University of Wales should be so amended as to make the teacher's certificate the basis of the franchise for electing teachers' representatives as members of the university Court of Wales." Mr. R. Price (Mertbyr) seconded. The resolution was carried without discus- sion. TEACHERS AS CIVIL SERVANTS. Mr. F. Peaker moved the reception of the report of the executive on the question of the Civil Service idea for teachers. Mr. W. Griffiths seconded. The report was a long one, but the following is a brief outline of the considerations and facts stated in detail:—1. The Civil Service idea for teachers involves, in the opinion of the execu- tive—(a) the abrogation of the school board system; (b) the annulling of denominational schools; (c) religious freedom and exemption from extraneous tasks; (d) an immediate addi- tional cost to the State; (e) the suspension or abandonment of several of the chief aims of the Union; (f) the re-modelling of the Union; (g). ourtailment of civic and political rights and privileges now possessed by teachers; (h) loss of influence by teachers on educational legislation and administration. 2. No considerable amount of opinion in favour of the idea appears to be expressed among teachers at home or abroad. The exist- ing "Service" teachers are not very well paid or treated. 3. The Civil Service, when examined, does not appear to be so well worth entering as casual observers have supposed- 4. The Civil Service is deteriorating in its advantages, each revision and alteration making it less desirable than before. 5. Even as it is at present, the Civil Service is honeycombed with discontent. 6. Civil Service for teachers is hnpracticable. From the particulars, facts, and figures stated in this report, the reader will be able to draw conclusions as to the rank in the Civil Service likely to be essigned to teachers, were they made Civil servants. In all probability, teachers, if taken into the Civil Service, would be placed on a footing comparable to the average position and pay enjoyed when outside the Service. There is no reason to suppose thnt public opinion would demand for them, or the Treasury award, anything better than the middle and lower middle grades of the Service. The questions for the reader of this report to determine are, first, is the change practicable, and, secondly, if practicable, is it worth while? The report was talked out, the time for adjournment arriving in the meantime. The President announced that the sessions, third, fifth, and sixth, to follow would be of a private nature. SUBSEQUENT PROCEEDINGS. The third session took place at the Albert- hall in the afternoon. The proceedings were private, and the delegates were occupied with the internal affairs jf the Union, which, from what we have learnt, were debated with a good deal of spirit. No reports ef these, however, are supplied the press SOCIAL MEETINGS. In the evening several social meetings wore held. For instance, the old Bangor collegians met at the Grand Hotel for a reunion; the Burrough Roadians at the Liberal Club, Car- marthen ites at the Working Men's Club, the Chelts at the Castle Hotel, whilst there was a ladies' gathering at the Swansea Training College for femade pupil teachers. THE PUBLISHERS] EXHIBITION. The Publishers' Exhibition at the Swansea Market-hall is quite an elaborate and preten- tious one. On Tuesday it was for the first time in full swing, and was visited by a large number of people. The public were admitted as well aa the delegates up to six o'clock, after which there was a steady influx of delegates only, their third session being then over. The exhibition is in a central spaoe in the market, which has been carefully enclosed, and includes, in addition to the exhibition, a post-office and a refreshment room, in which lun- cheons, &e., are catered. The exhi- bition consists of all kinds of school nuterials, maps, books, objects, &a, also scien- tific appamti, and other intereetin^ things. ANNUAL BREAKFAST TO THE N.U.T. REPRESEN TATIVES. The annual breakfast given under the auspices of the National Temperance League to the representatives of the N.U.T. took place on Tuesday morning at the Shaftesbury-hall, St Helen's-road. A large number of representatives sat down to an excellent repast, served by Mr. J. E. Fiff, of the Grand Hotel, and afterwards Principal Roberts, M.A. (University College of Wains), addressed those present. He remarked that the question of temperance reform had taken a deep hold upon the Welsh people, and they as teachers would be untrue to their prin- ciples if they were not amongst the foremost oonneoted with it. The profession of the teacher was one which, whether they took an active part in the work of temperance advance or not, demanded that their position with respect to this question should be very definite and ciear. (Hear, hear.) In a profession in which the personal individual relationships were so vital a factor in the education of the young, there could be little doubt that personal abstinence was a matter of duty. (Hear, hear.) Further, he said, their profession invested them with a responsibility which they could not divest them- selves of.—t)r. Rawlings, J.P.. also made an earnest appeal to the teachers to use their in- fluence over the children wisely and well in the matter of advocating temperance principles.— Addresses were also delivered by Miss E. P. Huarhes, Mr Addiscott (the new president), and Mr. Waddington, and with votes of thanks to those who had taken part the proceedings terminated.
PENRHYN QUARRY DISPUTE
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PENRHYN QUARRY DISPUTE QUESTION OF ASSISTING THE MEN, The conference of the National Union of Teachers assembled at 9.30 on Wednesday morning to pursue their deliberation* QUESTION OF UNQUALIFIED TEACHERS. A suspension ef the standing orders was agreed to in older that Mr. Hicks (Stroud Green) sheuld move the following resolution :—"That this conference desires to call public attention to the injustice done to the children attending public elementary schools by the employment ot unqualified and uncertificated persons as teachers, and protests against the unfair competition to which fully- qualified teachers are euojected as a conse- quence of the employment of these unskilled persons." Mr. Hicks proceeded to point out the mischief which was being perpetrated by the employment of these unqualified teachers, espe- cially as they were very numerous. The 14-,000 teachers of this class at present employed in the public elementary schools of the country must be a constant menace to the best interests of their proxession. Xiiey might talk about the strength and progress of their Union, but, unless they made some attempt to make it a closed profession, he predicted that most decidedly tho.r efforts would be in vain. They were continually asking for a better status for the teacher, and improved treatment for the assistant-teachers and the teacners in the small rural schools, but. he submitted this could never come until the yabes were cloeed for ever against people who did not possess tne hall-mark of the Education Department, it was possible for the Govern- ment at the present time to flood the market with these people, but he hoped and trusted that the conference would do all in its power, by passing his resolution with a view of endeavour- ing to it-medy this dangerous condition of thn.gs in their schools. Mr. A. A. Thomas (Highbury) seconded the resolution. He described it as the most impor- tant resolution which could come before that conference. Not only were the teachers pre- judicially affected, but the schools were placed at a disadvantage compared with those ort the Continent by this practice of admitting unqualified teachers. People who had not been trained for the profession, such as under- graduates of the university and others, were, as a matter of fact, doing a great deal of harm in their profession. It was not to their university education he objected, but to tho fact that they had never learnt the trade of teaching, and it had to be learnt. (Hear, hear.) And, in addi- tion, there wa.s no question that these incursions of outsiders were koapiug down salaries of properiy-trained teachere. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Gregory (Somerset) supported the reso- lution. He de' hed these interlopers as the quacks of the pr^.o^ion. Mr. Macnamara, in a spirited speech, agreed with one of the speakers, tl»at th1íl was the most important question on agenda of that conference. That amateur casual, nhe univer- sity graduate, had been ra.ther hotly dealt with by some of the previous speakers, but he noted that the mover of the resolution wag himself a university graduate. This, of coufrs^ made it olear that it wjts not university men as such that were objected t>V but they took a pro- fessional stand that those wno wanted to enter the profession must come in the proper way and after proper training. As matk^B stood, the force of teaclera W;M not &f¡ itfe proper strength. What would they think if the Government sent out a military expedition to Dongola consisting of one body of soldiers, one of drummer boys, and one of militia- men? Suppoee they sent out British warships. one manned by able seamen, one by boys out of training Ships. and one by 'longshoremen ? (Laughter.) Well, that was exactly what they were doing, and by so doing they were paying war indemnities right off; they would be ceding territories and losing trade. In Leviticus it was said that there must be a sacrifice for ignorance. (Laughter.) The. tram lines in Swansea had been laid by Belgians, not because labour was cheaper there, not because factory legislation was better or term* of labour more easy, but because the machinery there was better, because thev turned rut their working men more highlv and intellectually equipped. When the trades' delegates went tn Germanv bhev Wtmt preiudic0-^ aarainst things in that country, but they came back with the conviction that (the secret of German success was the high intellectuality of the work- ing clashes, and the greater ejection of machinery as the result. Who owned the bietrest eteplworks at Lnndire ? Why. Germans. They wanted down there at Swansea, and on every public platform, to rub the«e things in. to ^o-wthat +h°;r natural cm- cities were not util:rod as they ousrht to be. Of course, they. as Britishers, flattered them- selves they could knock out the rest of the world in to" rourrl. The^ har) n dirmn monopoly of the superiority of the world. (Ar,T>Vau=e and l"Ti«rht<>T^ Thev eonlrl not nut children to educate children. It engendered a distaste for education on the part of teacher and pup:l. Take the medical profession. What would the public say if a meHioa.l prac- titioner delivered over one-third of his plants to the treatment of his bottle boy. (Laughter.) They laughed at th"t illustration, but it ws on all fours with their own position. The people would not allow experiments to be worked in this way on their bodies. Should they allow experiments on the minds of chil- dren? They should untiringly agitate this question, and it should 11" shown to the world that one-third of the children were at present taught by children, and another third by entirely unqualified persons. (Applause.^ The resolution was then put and carried. THE PENRHYN QUARRYMEN. Mr. Thompson (London), who rose to pro- pose a resolution m favour of subsidising the Penrhyn quarrvmen, said they would recollect that the principle of the resolution was con- firmed by a. majority at the first session of the conference, and he then promised to bring forward a definite, practical proposal to show they really believed in that for which they voted on Monday afternoon. He moved, therefore:—"That this conference hereby in- structs the executive to send a sum of J6150 to the Penrhyn quarrymen, who are so nobly defending the right of the workers to eombine effectively." (Applause.) He hoped the delegates would disabuse their minds of any impression that this was an a'btempt to settle the question of Trades Unionism by a side wind. (Applause.) He did not appeal to them on that ground at all. Other societies, he pointed out, insisted upon combination. The Medical Council, for instance, insisted upon it. The medical officer of health for the town in which the speaker lived did not pay his subscription to his association for one year. It was moved, and decided, that this man should not be re-appointed, because it was distinctly illegal to appoint any man as medical officer who had not entered into his combina- tion and paid all his subscriptions. He dared say the day would come when the teachers would adopt a similar principle. (Applause.) Com- bination was not only admitted as a right, but insisted upon as a duty. and he hoped the day might come when all workers would be banded together in one community of interest. The next point was the amount they should give, and he thought £100 was the smallest amount they could possibly give. (Cheers, and cries in opposition.) It was only the price of a penny postage stamp for every member of the Union, and would not commit them to Traded Union- ism or anything of that kind. He appealed, at any rate, for their sympathy, as men and women, for the children of the quarrymen, and he asked them not to lay down any general rule applying to all cases. This was a special caee of the right of combination. It was not a matter of a strike or wages, but one to be settled on its merits. He asked for their sympathy and also for their fidelity to the principles they professed. He wanted to (how the quarrymen that the fact of their being differently employed was no reason why they should not show sym- pathy and take a common interest in such matters. (Applause.) Mr. J. Hodge (Chelsea) seconded the resolu- tion. Mr. Hicks (London) moved an amendment to the effect that before any grant be made the rules be amended to give effect to such policy. He urged that they should pause before taking up the position ably and kindly outlined by Mr. Thompson. It would be dangerous at .present to take such & step, in spite of the casuistry and astute weaving of arguments by the mover of the resolution. ("Hear, hear," and cries of "No, no.") If they adopted the resolution they would oemmit themeelves to supporting strife &s between capital and labour. (Cries of "Tee" anci "No") If they voted this money now they would have similar applications from other distriots. Men would say, 'Oh, you sup- ported the Penrhyn men, and why shouldn't you support us in Nottingham?" It had been argued, not to his satisfaction, that this was a principle of combination. It was useless for Mr. Thompson or anyone else to say the resolu- tion would not start a fresh policy—a policy which he asked them to hesitate before adopt- ing. (Applause ) He hoped he had as much sympathy as Mr. Thompson with the workers— (hear, hear)—but the rules would have to be altered before they could go ahead. He asked. Were they going for all time to ally themselves with labour as against capital? (Cries of "Yes" and "No.") This presentation of j6150 would be boomed in every paper in the country. (Cheers and counter- cheers.) By this vote they would declare whether the Union should stand on an inde- pendent platform. (Applause.) They had to act rightly at any moment for the good of the pro- fession as a whole, or ally themselves with labour organisation. He hoped the conference would not be led, but would lead. (Applause.) He hoped some of the gentlemen who opposed this on the executive would now not leave him so high a.nd dry as they did the ether day, but would stand to their guns. (Laughter and applause.) He was sure they could express valuable opinions, if only they would have the courage. (More laughter.) Apart from laugh- ter, casuistry, and appeals for sympathy-(cries of dissent)—they were at the parting of the ways, and he asked-Was it wise at this moment to say they wore prepared as a Union to support labour organisations? (Cries of "Yes" and "No.") Mr Winfield (Bristol) had great pleasure in seconding the amendment. Unquestionably, they nad erot to the parting of the ways. No one was a stronger Trades Unionist than him- but if they went to the lengths proposed in the resolution he for one would then consider seriously tho position, of the Union. (Ap- plause.) Theirs was a professional Union, (Applause.) It might be necessary to strike for better salaries and better treatment for themselves, and, therefore, for their children. It might be necessary ere long to sav they would not allow teachers to work for miserable pittances, but it waa not necessary for them a.t th^ juncture to say they would support a strike, BIlld if one strike, therefore, other strikes. CYes" and "No.") Their rules would not permit them to do it. (Applause.) Many of the large centres were not represented in the conference—Swansea was 60 out of the world in a way, (Laughter, and cries of dissent from all parts of the hall.) Well he would withdraw that, and say Swansea was'difficult to get at—(laughter)—and that it cost so much money to get there, t^at comparatively few associations were represented. That was one of the smallest conference? he had ever seen— ("No")—and there were present a. large pro- portion of town teaohers who were apt to be assertive, and rightly so. and take a strong line upon such questions. Until they altered the constitution they would have absolutely no right to apply any money te such a. purpose. (Applause.) Mr. Waddington here intervened to reply to the charge of running away from the executive He had not run away, and did not intend to do so. It had been said they were at the part ng of the ways. Why, they had always been there. (Laughter.) At every conference there had always been a crisis, and they had always got on all right. (Applause.) It had Men objected that behind it all there was a question of strategy, but he maintained it was IfJO question of Trades Unionism, and that an attempt had been made to draw a rod herring across the t,r,ck. (Laughter.) In their struggles in different towns who but the work- ing men had supported them, and would they now be afraid to show sympathy in return, end to stand by the working men of Penrhvn? (Applause.) He trusted they would do their best to increase the amount to £250 and show their sympathy as a conference of National Union teachera. (Applause.) Mr. Phillips (Southwa-rk) wanted them to remember thnt thev had to look to their own interests. they had a oase of improper dismissal to fight, they would send down Mr. Hicks to plead his case before these men. Would they not be putting Mr. H'cks out of court by not passing this resolution ? He wanted them to think of the workmen and of their children who were going to school with empty stomach?, rhey talked of the par*ir,(j of the ways When was the Duke cf Edinburgh married? (Laucrhter.) That was the parting of the ways. (Renewed laughter, during which the speaker's time elapsed). Mr. Powell (East Sussex) said he had not come wi<h a mandate to put votes in the hat in favour of Unionism. They were told a red herring was being drawn across the path. He eould see no red herring. (Laughter.) They were to-day face to face with a great principle. He defied Mr. Waddington or any other man to get away from the fact that a great principle was involved. If they had moved a resolution bringing the rules in line with those of Trades Unions, they would disease the matter on its merits, but he maintained this resolution was brought in by a side wind. Those to-day who vded against granting this B150 did not lack syn.pathy with the labour classes. That was a great mistake. They were simply- considering the internal organisation of the Union, 'ihey must regulate those affairs before they oould Jjuiog toeox ia toauoh with other Uaiocs. 3tIo
NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS.
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NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS. MEETINGS AT SWANSEA. RECEPTION BY THE MAYOR. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. The conference of the National Union of Teachers for 1897 opened at the Albert-hall, Swansea, on Monday afternoon at two o'clock, when the delegates were formally received by the Mayor of Swansea and a number of local notables, and the conference was formally con- stituted and business commenced. The dele- gates arrived during Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and at the opening of the conference there were, pro- bably, a thousand present. The platform accommodation of the hall had been extended and made comfortable for both speakers and the press representatives. The hall did not receive much decoration, but a few mottoes in Welsh and English were posted on the fronts of the balconies, such as "Welcome to Wales," "Best Weapon is Knowledge," "Union is Strength," &c. The mayor was accompanied on the platform by most of the members of the executive of the N.U.T.. including Mir. J.. T. Macnamara, re- tiripg president; Mr. C. J. Addiscott, presi- dent-elect; Mr. Yoxall, M.P., Mr. Gray, M.P., and the following local gentlemen —Sir J. T. D. Llewelyn, Bart., M.P., Sir John Jones Jenkins. M.P.. Mr. D. Brynmor Jones. M.P., Councillor D B. White, mayor of Car- marthen the Revs. Canon Smith and E. Jenkins, Mr. L. T. Monro, inspector of schools; Mr. J. Rees, sub-inspector; Dr. Tnrpin, principal of Swansea Intermediate School; Mr. J. Coke Fowler, stipendiary; Mr. Evan Lewis, and Mr. Tom John. THE MAYOR'S WELCOME. The Mayor, who wore his robes and ohain of office, rose and said it was his dutv to ex;er.d to them a very hearty weloome. in visiting Wales they would have -he satisfaction of know- ing that they were coming amongst a people who most highly valued and appreciated the good work of education. Whilst they received them with every kindness and hospitality as strangers and visitors, they would also regard them very highly as teachers for their work's sake. (Hear, hear.) They recognised that the day was long past when it was thought that those who bad failed at other undwtakings would be compelled to be the instructors of their youth. (Laughter and applause.) The day when the village schoolmaster was the superannuated policeman or the retired army pensioner had gone by. (Renewed laughter.) They had learned to look upon the noble profes- sion as among the mOcSt distinguished and im- portant in the land, needing tne very highest qualifications both of natural ability and of culture. In Swansea considerable progress had been made during the last few years in the ad- vancement of intermediate and elementary education, and they had learnt to honour the men who had been foremost in advancing the educational interests of the rising generation. It was true that the appreciation had been slow and tardy in the past, but it was, nevertheless, a fact that those who had, a few years ago, devoted themselves to the advancement of edu- cation, when it was not so popular as to-day, were amongst the heroes whom they were now delighted to honour. (Applause.) He was glad to know that the feeling of appreciation was 'steadily and surely removing the old prejudices, and tha.t the bogey of an increased rate was not now sufficient to discourage the people in their right and proper desire that the children should receive the very best education possible and lit them for the great battle of life. One effect of their visit, continued tihe mayor, would be to give the people of that district i- more adequate idea of the work of the Union, and they might depend that anything the public of Swansea could do to facilitate their operations would be "done with the greatest of pleasure. (Applause.) Sir J. T. D. Llewelyn, M.P., on rising, was received with an pvation. He joined in the very hearty welcome offered by the mayor. He appreciated the large number of their atten- danoe and the large number they represented at that conference. He was pleased that they had broken ground in that part of the kingdom, for there was no part of the country which had been more in the forefront of the educational movement than the Principality of Wales. (Applause.) They had come in the broad, general interests of education, and they would listen with the deepest interest to their delibera- tions. (Applause.) Sir John Jones Jenkins, M.P., re-echoed the welcome- He said that they had always in that pyrt of the country appreciated elementary edu- cation. They were amongst the first in Swan- sea to adopt the Elementary Education Act. • Their failure to obtain the higher education centred there had not damped their zeal in the oause. The State now recognised the teachers as an important body, and that their influence on the future welfare of the country could r.ot be over-estimated. In his recent visits to the higher grade board schools he had noted the great improvement in the methods of teaching and the good feeling which prevailed. The head of the Manchester police had recently given his opinion that physical education had had prin- cipally to do with the decrease of drunkenness. Sir John emphasized the desirability for culti- vating promptness and punctuality and striot rectitude of character. Mr. D. Brynmor Jones, M.P., followed, and said they extended their welcome to them, not in their individual character, but as the repre- sentatives of an ever-growing and splendidly poseful profession. As coming from a place where education had been much talked of recently—(laughter)—he might advise them in their deliberations to set the House of Com- mons a good example in debate—to be more businesslike, perhaps, and ait the same time not to put on the closure too often. There was no part of the United Kingdom which could show such adequate public provision for education as Wales. He was precluded by time from enter- ing upon a description of that system but they had treated education as a thing by itself, had declined to allow it to be trammelled by reli- gion or any other matter which had nothing to do with it. Equality of opportunity was what they sought—that the son of the collier should have the same chance as the son of the peer; and they claimed they had procured for the son of the collier an educational ladder to the uni- versity: and they made no difference either of rank or of sex—(applause)—and they provided for the representation of the local authorit es— the delegates of the .parents of their scholars. There were more people epeaking the Weish language now than at any previous time, and from amongst all the languages and dialects existing here at the time of the Roman invi^on the Welsh was at the present the only fie spoken. (Applause, and a Voice: "Olywcn clywcdi," and laughter.) Tbe Mayor of Carmarthen, the Vicar of Swansea, the chairman of the Swansea School Board (Mr. LJ. Harris), Mr. L. T. Monroe, the Rev. Evan Jenkins, Dr. Turpin, and others, also (poke. Mr. T. J. Macnamana then moved:—"That the ihanks of the conference be, and they are liereby given, to the representatives of Swansea and neighbouring towns for the cordial recep- tion a..d welcome given to the conference." He expressed the great pleasure it gave educa- tionalists to come to Wale3. He was lost in admiration at the work Wales had accomplished of recent years and the honest endeavour made to link the various grades of schools together. Wales spent seven times as much tut of local rates on education as the people of England did, and be must say that the people of Scot- land, in spite of their educational zeal, were spending practically nothing on education. After emphasising the necessity for a good foundation of primary schools, the speaker instanced the action of Welsh M.P.'s on the Education Bill in the House of Commons as showing Welsh zeal for education—(loud laugh- ter)—concluding by wishing Wales every success in her future efforts. Mr. T B Ellery (ex-president) seconded, and the resolution having been carried was replied to by the mayor. ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY. The president (Mr. Macnamara) then took the chair, and his first act was to propose that a loyal address be presented to her Majesty, con- gratulating1 her on the completion of a reign of sixty years. The president remarked that a vote from that body, which had the teaching of the people of the future, was, he thought, sure to be received by her Majesty as one of the happiest auguries. Mr. Addiscott, president-elect, seconded, and the resolution was carried with eclat, the assembly singincr "God Save the Queen" and "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau." NEW PRESIDENT. The president then introduced Mr. C. J Addisoott. the president-elect, and installed him as president for the ensuing year. VOTE OF THANXS TO THE RETIRING PRESIDENT. Mr. C. Bowden moved and Mrs. Burgwin seconded:—"That the best thanks of the con- ference be, and they are hereby, tendered to Mr. T. J. Macnamara for his valuable services to the Union during the past two years as vice- president and president, and that a copy of this resolution be inscribed on vellum and presented to Mr. Macnamara as a memento of his years of office." This resolution was carried with musical honours. The President, whose many-sided virtues were greatlv extolled by the speakers, suitably replied. The President then delivered his presidential address. RECEPTION OF DEPUTATIONS. The following deputations attended and delivered speeches:- From the Educational Institute of Scotland: Mr. John Adams, M.A. (president), Free Church Training College, Aberdeen; and Mr. Hugh M'Collum,' M.A., Pupil Teachers' Insti- tute, Montrose-street, Glasgow. Ifrutu the Irish National Teachers' Oxgrnts*- tim: Mr. J. J. Matthews, Ashbrook House, Finglas, Dublin: and Mr. M. Hanly, B.A., 34. Royal Canal, Dublin. From the Federation Generate des Institu- fceurs Beiges Mons. Blondiau, Rue de Pare 45. a Lieffe. Mr. W. H. Brown, 1. Cardiff-road, Newport, Men., and Mr. J. Williams, Rock Inn, Aber- aman, Aberdare, attended as a deputation from the Co-operative Union, and addressed the conference. Votes of thanks were accorded the deputa- tions. THE VICE-PRFSIDENCY. The President announced the voting for the vice presidency to be as follows: — Mr. R. Waddington, Bolton 12,087 Mr. T. Clancy, Portsmouth 10,179 Mr. R. Waddington, Bolton 12,087 Mr. T. Clancy, Portsmouth 10,179 Majority m. 1,903 The result was received with loud applause, the election practically deciding the presidency for 1893.—Mr. Waddington, replying for the for 1893.—Mr. Waddington, replying for the honcMr otinferred upon him. said he had done his best for tho teachers during his career, and ho hoped that in their votes they would always select the best man. THE PENRHYN QUARRYMEN. Mr. W. Thompson (Chelsea and West Lon- don) was down to move an amendment to No. 9 Motion—to add—But this conference regrets the action of the executive in rescinding their previous resolution to assist the Penrhyn quarry- men, and hereby requests the executive to send the sum of JB150 towards the support of the men who have so nobly defended the right of combi- nation." The President said that he agreed with the first part of the amendment, but the second past (respecting the money) was entirely out of order, without suspension of the standing orders. He would ask, therefore, whether it would be withdrawn. Mr. Thompson, who was received with loud applause, then stood forward and moved the resolution, saying it ought not to be allowed to go forth to the world that they pursued a selfish policy, but that they were anxious to help others who fought for unity. He asked them to carry that resolution, not as a vote of censure, but as an indication of their opinion of what should be done, amd the effect would be that the next resolution he moved on the subject would be carried. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Hurder (East London) seconded. Mr. S. Hicks (member of the executive) asked the meeting to pause before passing the resolu- tion, and said they had no rules permitting it, and the Union could not spare the money. They should oonsider where this would lead them. The question was hotly debated by a number of delegates, and several members of the execu- tive hoped the meeting would give the execu- tive the power required to tyrant the money. In replv to a. delegate, the President said the mutter was rejected by the executive on its merits, and not on a question of rules. The rules, as far as could be observed, permitted such a grant. The amendment was carried by a. large majority. The conference at seven o'clock adjourned till Tuesday morning.
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'I! E m "THE mmcbxjq „ I r i Ckrtat Koduction In pric* to W. per lb; mM ifik EKFNi reduce Stook, but QUALITY uOOD AB H jj CjP Bedstead! Onr lOOfiOO Adt already told to Thoroughly Satufi&i Pureha^Z ■ Blankets, ^Down Quilts, iig NEWHAM'S Lincolnshire feather urn$ BVpplifili At Tliete Brds are warranted douMy jrarifl«d.dusted aiid BO lowest nricaa. exten'ive factory at Roiton, Linco.. m*d# in stroaff TOP qnolit-etn«=*i and parity of«"reryb«i Mat «• Lasts Irs* GIVE ^TTSPKCTIOX, »nd IWI thotumwU of SKI on application. flatu-rinir testimonials an« other nxitr* tnr t«da. >'ot« ioliwrim '"iueh a/* Ha per cent, ieee th»n our ree'Btly adveri.l»edprice» • i ■ A&FC SO 2° 1)0X73 E'BED BOLSTER & TWO -IG HP PILLOWS, "• biu- Fy r 'g y. Ko.Jg D0§Bt.E BED BOLSTER ft TWO [9 »p* W J, r P _-u "yiLLpwfc" tin- 41/3 J. W T:J "• WoiA..EXraA. SIZED BED- BOLPTEB & .qM Jsi «I "TWO mi.OWi}, 6 ft. 6 in. ty S ft" 4o/9 k nj iheA bed on IT 9fl. pw lb, oasriace P1* 9d. vf Vin iR 1111111 111 H" r* iinl Tinr"nun FV T gl?t: "n'T '„|iil Vj, lb. The trade mppiied. AU ordrri must be »«<> i4eI», fik bj- Clieqsn »r r.o.o. 'which, rt a «acurilr to ni«71* poat-datei 13 davs). Seed for aample* jST and Ti-ka, Price Liata. Ac., which wil be sen. ol Wa nr.* neett^not be reurm«4. Orest reisotioB o» TEADH MASK: "BOSTOS STUVF." P- M. ft OO..B«stoa.
- SWANSKa county cotJNcf i
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SWANSKa county cotJNcf i MONTHLY MEETING. I The usual monthly meeting of the County Council was held on Wednesday^fB noon at the Guild-hall. The mayor (Mr- 7 Watkins) presided. RESIGNATION OF A A letter was read from Mr. E. R. Dani^* of the councillors for St. John's Ward, *^55 ing his resignation on the score of n ill-health, and offering heartfelt thanks mayor and his colleagues and the their invariable kindness and courtesy-j# late member's seat was declared vacant, I Mayor, on behaif of the council, said t-ti^p' extremely sorry to receive the resign one who had served them well for s° years. (Hear, hear.) MAYOR'S SALARY. J Alderman Tutton, in proposing the of the report of the property and yener^ .1* poses committee, made allusion to the be taken to commemorate the Queen's reign, and said the committee cordially mended to the hearty support ot the tants the mayor's scheme for the provis' VJ a nurses' home in connection with the General Hospital. The committee, after consideration, resolved that the salary 9 mayor for the current year be mcreas^jd £ 1,250 to cover the expenditure the fortbo^jjr events and celebrations would entail. Th not gone into the question of the app° ment of the money, but a small Jf mittee would be appointed to v the mayor in the disposition of jF sum mentioned.—Mr. Protheroe hoped & mittee would apportion some amount viding music in Cwmdonkin Park- He v out the public had been deprived of the park since the police band was disbaj Mr. Skidmore: There is no polioe band The Mayor: No. A Alderman Tutton: The amount is an ordinary one for the year, and the provi^ tjr a band will not be included. In regard location of offices for the University 01 and the memorial of the corporation in 1 of the offices being at Swansea, the matte^jJ in good hands. Dr. Rawlings would the claims of Swansea at the approaching jf ing of the council of the university, and. &1* that their claims, if not absolutely irTeS\p%r ought ro be so. (Hear, hear.) He they would be satisfied with the oacy, and he hoped the result would be tory. (Hear, hear.) The report was then adopted. HEALTH OF THE BOROUGII. Mr. T. Freeman, in submitting the of the works and sanitary- committee, eXOjJ? pleasure that the death-rate for the boroiH^wJ the last five weeks was only 1+ • 6 £ The delegates of the N.U.T. now in would, therefore, be able to carry away, them the fact that the town was one healthiest in the kingdom. TOWN WATER SUPPLY. jjtf The report introduced by jf smith of the water and sewers commit^pjjWj tained some references to the Cray water 6" W and the plans of the reservoir and tunD sub committee also presented a report ffl that Mr. G. H. Hill, consulting > (A considered with the committee the #4 specifications for the works in connect!' ) the intended reservoir and tunnel. Mr- ^C j wad instructed to re-draw the plans, ge^J accordance with certain alterations s by Mr. Hill. and the commiti-ae recomi that Sir. Wyrill engage such assistance t> bo reoessary to enable him to cornp 4^1, work with the least possible delay.— Thomas emphasised the importance o* ing at once with the work, especially aS portion of the town was suffering^-K deficiency in the wa-ter supply. Five Y. {*• been wasted, and thty were now <*0 n\ which should have been taken in hand ( (Hear hear.)—The report was then 00 A rate was made of 6s. 4 £ d., amounts reqtrired for all purposes, eX the poor rate.
ABERY5 TWITH TOWN
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ABERY5 TWITH TOWN At a meeting of the Aberys^t"? rftit Council on Wednesday afternoon, (Councillor Robert Doughton) Councillor R. J. Jones moved^ eii steps being taken to commemorate u^e anniversary of the Queen's reign. nnCe rji remarked thtt it had more tnan sh Jj* suggested thAt a public recreation. (ct be procured for the town, and, Pf.-gjofl considered this a very fitting moving in the matter. He als^l_-taa't0-,tl<' something might be done to 8 l<& memory of the late Joseph man who bequeathed a substant I cow, charitable purposes in the town. -.a0os agreed to refer the matter to tne mittee for their^onsideration^na^
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DELICIOUS MAZAWATTB15 ,rgA I DELICIOUS MAZAWATUFb ? DELICIOUS MAZAWATTBB DELICIOUS MAZAWArrE £ DELICIOUS MAZAWATTEE Jte-oftlls the Delicious Te* of IhirtZ ■'<A
PENRHYN QUARRY DISPUTE
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begged them to resent this attempt to bring about a great issue bv a side wind. Mr. Winterton (West Ham and District) said he wae surprised at the moral cowardice cf some of them. There was a, good deal of talk about Unionism, but they took jolly good enre that when it came to a practical illustra- tion they did nof carry it out. Did they mean to say that there on Welsh soil they would refuse to give this grant to Welsh colliers who had fought for years for their (the National Union's) principles? He was surprised to hear Mr. Hicks — Mr. Shadrnch Hicks — pleading for precedent. They were alwavs appealing to the workers of England. The greatest principles were not settled br legal gentlemen, but by these very workers they were refusing a grant to to-day. Mr. Pinkham {St. Paocrat) said thev were amply affirming for themselves and for the men of Penrhyn the right to combine. They wanted at fitting times and occasions to show they had the intereats of Unionism at heart. They wera not pledging themselves to any future action at all. Mr. Wingfield had argued that thev should be a Union by themselves, and that if that was not so he should seriously have to con- sider his own position with regard to it. WHII, he (the speaker) was opposed to their being a Union by themselves, and if the contercnoe was going to assist that principle he should seriyuUv have to consider his position—(laughter)—and the executive might consider bis 7s. 1Jl jeopardy. (Laughter and apph.tI-1.) Mr. Baldwin (Bedford) said he was Ir sym- pathy with the ciuarryrren and the prirciple? of Unionism, but tne funds of the Union were not the source from which !.iey *h:n!jd fiw the seeds of those prinoipVs. He held 'hat ihe Union would be comnu'tir.g themselves by this resolution to a most serioas departure. He wail prepared to test their sympathy in another way -that they should refuse to pass this resolution, but that they should start a minimum subscrip- tion of 5s. at the conference. (The speaker here handed up his own 5s. to the chairman on the platform, amid loud applause and laughter.) The Chairma.n then submitted a resolution that the question be now put, and it was carried bv a show of hands. Mr. Thompson then replied on his motion. They were at the "parting of the ways"—not in political convictions or the constitution of the Union, but they were going to settle whether they had the courage to help other workers or continue to fight entirelT- for their own hand. He had not asked them to commit themselves to any of the thinp-s suggested or to take them off the trail. (A Voice: "You are doing so.") Sym- pathetic bunkum was not going down with the country. Let them, by passing his resolution, merely affirm that in this particular case the principle of the right of combination was in danger, and that they would stand by that prin- ciple solidly that day. The President then put the amendment as to altering the rules, and, on a show of hands, declared the amendment lost. THE FIRST BALLOT. A requisition being handed in for a ballot on the question, the requisite number of 50 rose in their places to support the demand. The voting was then carried on as follows: -The delegates were provided with differently coloured tickets, and the president announced that those who favoured the amendment would put a yellow ticket in the box, and ihose who were against it by brown tickets. These tickets agreed with the number of members represented by each delegate, some being pro- vided with three or four tickets, and some with only one. The President announced that if it was thought that a private subscription would meet the case such a subscription had already been opened. (Hear, hear.) The result of the division on Mr. Hick's amendment was given at a later stage as follows: For the amendment 7,515 Against 18,524 Majority. 11,009 Mr. Thomipson's resolution was then put and carried. APPOINTMENT OF INSPECTORS. A resolution, "That persistent and con- tinuous efforts be made to ensure the appoint- ment of practical teachers direct from their schools to the inspectorate, a.nd that to ensure this the 35 age limit to eligibility be no longer in force as applied to teachers," coming from the North Metropolitan District Union, Fins- bury, was adopted without discussion. EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN. Mr. R. Waddington (Executive) then moved a. resolution which produced a good deal of discussion. It was that the half-time system should he abolished. Mr. Waddington appealed to them to bring about some change in the present srBt«>n), which woakened the schools a.nd spoilt the children's instruction. There were 120.03.) children at work at the mills, starting at 5 r-r 5 in the mornings, winter and summer. (Shame.) On the Continent the children were rilseved from alj this. Even B irniev was in favf ur if doing away with this iniquitous system, it being gradually perceived that it was not a paying game! (Hear, hear.) They had 20 per cent. of the children on the half-time plan, and the result was in the fourth and upper standards they had a "beggarly array of empty benches," and they wondered why they had to offer treats to the children to bring them to the rehool. He hoped Parliament would soon see its way to pass a resolution on the model of one passed at the Berlin Conference, and put an end to this state of things, which was not tolerated in other countries. Mr. Baxendale seconded. Mr. Russell (Blackbom) moved as an amend- ment:That it is doeirable that the half- time system be abolished, but that until this is done no half-time children be aJlowed to commenoa work before 8.30 a.m., and should not be allowed to work more than four hours a. da 7." Mr. Whitrtick (Blackburn) seconded, and said there a growing feeling that the ohildren shovid be removed for a longer time frum the evil influences of the mill. The amendment was then put and carned- MINISTERIAL PROMISES. Mr. T. B. Ellerv moved and Mr. W. Brock- ington, B.A., seconded:—"That conference, bearing in mind the many promisee made in Parliament by Ministers of both parties, together with the unanimous resolution of the House of Commons and the reports of Select and Departmental Committees in favour of a Super- annuation Act far certificated teachers, and rely- ing also on the encouragement given to their claim by so many members of Parliament of all parties and sections, now calls upon the Govern- ment to redeem these pledges during the present session of Parliament by providing that State- aided system of superannuation upon which the efficiency of the schools and the present ease of mind and future subsistence of the teachers so much depend." This resolution was subsequently referred to a private session. COMPLAINTS AGAINST ASSISTANTS A resolution on which a surprisingly warm discussion was created was one emanating from the executive, and moved bv Mr. A. Croft, as follows:—"That this conference is of opinion that entries in the log-book referring to certifi- cated class teachers or their work should be shown to the teacher whom they concern, at the time such entries are made, and that copies of suoh entries should be allowed to be taken if the teachers implicated deem such a course advisable and necessary." The importance of the adverse criticism beinfr shown to the assistant when written was insisted upon by manv delegates, pnd the reso- lution was subsequently passed with tho altera- tion of the word "implicated" to "concerned." WAGE-RATE FOR ASSISTANTS. Mr. W. J. Gilham then moved the affirma- tion of the first of a set of resolutions passed by conference, viz.: — "That this conference wishes to direct atten- tion to the altered condition of primary rchools, especially those in large towns, in that they are now mainly staffed by certificated assistant teachers, with the result of greatly increased educational eSicioncy. It points out however, that, as a consequence, assistant teachers are occupying more permanent positions, with little or no prospect of promotion to headships, and that the salaries of assistant teachers which were regulated for a temporary position are now quite inadequate. This conference, there- fore, re-affirms the following scale as the 'stan- dard rate of wages' for provircial assistant teachere, VIZ. :-Men minimum J380. rising by annual increments of £5 to jBlOO. and then to maxImUm J6150. by nnnual increments of £10, Women, minimum £ 70. to maximum :£120. by annual increments of JB5 Metropolitan class teachers: Men, J695 to JB120. bv annml auto- matic increments of £ 5, and £ 1?0 to £?OO, bv annual automatic increments of £ 10. Women, £&c¡ to £ 100 bv annml automatic increment." of £ 3. and B100 to J3150. by annual automatic increments of £ 6." Mr. Gilham, in his speech, referred especially to Swansea, where the scale for assistants was a disgrace to a town of its size It compared yery unfavourably with CttMM, acd even Barry, and it was only by prop«f P t)l p4 that the Swansea teachers oould amclior" position. I be This was at once agreed to. Uki CORPORAL PUNISHMENT, yj The second resolution moved by be and agreed to, read:—"That this while anxious to see the infliction of CO pt punishment reduced to a minimum, 15 lesB of opinion that the present P1"?^ til regulations, by fostering a spirit of tend to increase the amount of corporal K$» merit inflicted and thus defeat the ea^jC^ have in view; and, beitng tinder manV*j )r stances utterly unworkable, place asB1,?Tg^ a false and degrading position. That tt^ tion of a system by wbioh all certified a<» should have power to administer a. false and degrading position. That wt!, 'X tion of & system by which all certified a<» should have power to administer 00 pui iehment would remove, to a great 01 th-i tendency towards defiance that the f' regulations generate, would lessen the £ that exists between managers and teaeb teaohers and parents, and contribute w y to the improvement of education, f. «w that this conference notes with satisfaoti « the School Boards of London, Braafpr^a ton, Cardiff, Coventry, Gateshead, w Norwich. Nottinsrham, South Shields^.b land. West Hartlepool, Barry U.D., f and Wolstanton have authorised the JUJ cated assistant teachers in their fler^ administer corporal punishment." y TWO OTHER RESOLUTIONS. j d The following resolutions were also a < —"That, in the interests of education I the health of teachers and children, itiSj' t utmost importance thait the present ft < placing an inordinate number of children < the charge of one teacher, and the > system of overcrowding classrooms, shoHJ t discontinued. Further, that no teaohers should be held responsible f°r than forty children." "That this < of opinion that no department of a .school f 1 in future be erected with, or 1 capacity exceeding 400 children." < VOTES OF THANKS. j There were a number of other resolufajj the agenda, but the time Jiad now arrt^j the adjournment, and theVreaident rose*^jf ing to arrangement to propose the usu^ of thanks. It was asrreed with eclat that the best of the conference be given to Mr. J. Rhvg (chairman). Mr. J. Evan Jenkins (vi man), Mr. T. Roberts (treasurer), Mr. D, (secretary), and the other members of tbS conference committee for their very arrangements, and for the courteous to the convenience of members of conIs and that the executive be empowered to P^i on behalf of the conference, an address to the chairman and to the the local conference committee Thank* also tendered to Mr. J. W. Cadwalladr man). Mr. T. Madge (vice-chairman). SiJ 4 D. Llewelyn, Bart.. M.P.. and MT_ T. eran ftreasurers), Miss E. J. Davies, Mini Mitchell, Mr. H. Rowland Wakefield, •T Williams (secretaries), and the jj benevolent purposes committee, the varioØ, committees of the local conference co&& { and to the scrutineers jf PRESENTATION OF ADDRESS T0 MACNAMARA. m The illuminated address containing the thanks to Mr. T. J. Macnamara, the president, adopted at the first session, formally presented by the President. who^Tj was a beatrtifully illuminated testimony regard and esteem to Mr. Macnamara. f efforts in general, but especially on beBji villasre schoolmistresses—(hear, hear)— way he had extended tl*e good work the W was doing, both on the platform and columns of the "Schoolmaster." Mr. Maonaanara feelingly replied, and v* If ferenoe adjourned. ,1 F A private session was held subsequeD^ i the afternoon.