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j !'"-.'n. EDUCATtON CAMPAIGN.…

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j n. EDUCATtON CAMPAIGN. ARMING FOR THE FIGHT. NO PUBLIC MONEY FOR DENOMINA- TIONAL SCHOOLS. DISESTABLISHMENT PRESSED x ORWARD. MR LLOYD GEORGE AND THE LIMPET GOVERNMENT. A joint conference of the Welsh Parlia- mentary party, the Welsh National Executive of the County Councils, and the representa- tives of the central organisation of the four great Nonconformist denominations of Wales was held on Thursday, at Shrewsbury, to consider the organisation of the fighting forces and the provision of funds to meet the present educational crisis in the Principality. Tne proceedings were conducted in private. Sir Alfred Thomas, M.P., chairman of the Welsh Parliamentary party, presided, and .other Welsh members of Parliament present included Mr Lloyd George, M.P., Mr Bryn- nior Jones, M.P., Mr Herbert Lewis, M.P., Mr Herbert Roberts, M.P., Mr William Jones, M.P., and Mr A. Osmond Williams, M.P. THE EDUCATIONAL POSITION. The Chairman said that the conference was the outcome of the, crisis in the educa- tional position in Wales. In inviting the re- presentatives of the Welsh religious organisa- tion to meet them that day, the Welsh mem- bers of Parliament recognised that though the first duty of the Welsh members was to represent meir constituents in Parliament, they felt that in a matter so vitally affecting the interests of the whole of the Welsh people, the Parliamentary members could not dissociate themselves from the people in a fight of such importance, and this being a question affecting the principles of Nonconformity, Lhe Welsh Parliamentary party thought it right to invite the repre- sentatives of the denominations to meet them to discuss the situation (hear, hear). They were called a self-governing people, and were fond of saying that Britons never, never would be slaves. But it was evident that some people wanted to make slaves of a sec- tion of the Britons, and the section chosen was to be the ancient Britons—(laughter) who were to be made SLAVES OF THE CLERICAL PARTY. It that was the intention, he would say on behalf of his fellow-countrymen and using Birmingham slang, that the Welsh people were not going to take it lying down (ap- plause). The object of their meeting that day was to prepare for the fight, and to provide the sinews of war (hear, hear). Wales was threatened with ihe application cf the Defaulting Authorities Act, and it was their duty to be prepared to meet the blow wnen it came, and to reply to it. Resistance, «uch as was now contemplated, meant sacri- fice, possibly great sacrifice, out he was sure that the Welsh Nonconformists of to-day, descendants of those who in the past halt sealed their faith with their blood, would be ready when the call came. It was said the fight would be a costly one, but, however costly, it would be far less costly than what the fathers of Welsh Nonconformity had been prepared to face in the past, and which Nonconformists of to-day were equally pre- pared to face, in defence of their principles (applause). The fight could not last long, even the present Government limpets who stuck to office—(laughter)—would have to loosen their hold in another eighteen months (applause). Mr Evan Jones (Bala), representing the Merionethshire County Council, said that Merionethshire was perfectly cTear on one point, and that was that under no circum- stances would a single penny of the public rates be allowed to go towards the support of any denominational school (applause). That was a fundamental principle upon which all in the county were unanimously agreed. They were now desirous of knowing how they should proceed if they were declared in defaiffl. The Chairman pointed out that the par- ticular question to which the conference should direct its attention was that of per- fecting their organisation anci" providing the ways and means to meet the assault when it came. MR LLOYD GEORGE AND THE CAMPAIGN. Mr Lloyd George said it would not be desirable to discuss the public matters of tactics, which necessarily -at times involved fine points of law (hear, hear). He might, however, say that the Welsh membeis had already been in consultation with the Mer- ioneth representatives, and h.id had valu- able legal assistance from Mr Biyn Ro- berts and Mr Brvnmor Jones. He could not, of course, now reveal to the public the details of the scheme which they proposed carrying out in defence of the Welsh posi- tion, but he believed they would find when put in operation it would be much mora satisfactory for Merionethshire than fer the Board of Education (laughter and applause), But the Board of Education kept its own counsel with respect to the course it inten- dedto pursue iii attacking the Weltii j Councils, and he thought it wad equally es- sential that the enemy should be kept in the dark ias to what the Welsh Councils proposed to do when attacked. The Welsh reply to the assault upon their rights must he made a. source of embarrassment to the Board of Education, and it could not be an aide so effectual if they were informed be- forehand what the details of that reply would be (hear, hear). He would ask them to REPOSE CONFIDENCE IN THE COM- MITTEE, which was organising th's campaign (oap- plause). That committee had already saved the Principality £ 120,000, which would have gone from the rates to aid Church 6chools silica the Act came into operation had the Welsh Councils followed the lines of the English Councils in the administration of the Act. The committee had now for two years kept at bay an Act of Parliament which they deemed unjust and oppressive, and1 he thought tliey could, if necessary, keep the present Government rat bay for another two years, and that was the utmcst limit: to which the septennial Act would permit the limpet Government to run (laughter;. He wished them io proceed on the policy. "Beware of entering into a

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