Intermediate, Technical, and Agricultural Education in the immediate future, it would be most unwise for them to sink the proceeds of the new tax in the reduction of rates. It is to be noted that County Councils may either do the work direct, or delegate part of it to Town Councils and other Local Authorities within their County, handing over the funds for the purpose; and also that the facilities offered by the present Act may be utilised whether or not a rate has been raised, or is to be raised, under the Technical Instruction Act. POWERS WITH RESPECT TO SECONDARY OR "INTERMEDIATE" EDUCATION.* In Wales, besides the Technical Education Act, there is in operation an Act giving powers to County Councils to organise and assist intermediate education generally, and the present fund may there be used for the purpose of this special Act, which does not as yet apply to England. It is, however, almost certain from the declaration of the Government that a measure somewhat similar to the Welsh Act will be shortly passed for England. "TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION" COVERS MOST OF THE CURRICULUM OF A SECONDARY SCHOOL. There is little in the curriculum of a modern secondary school which may not be included under the broad definition of technical instruction in the Act. Drawing, science, arithmetic, and mathematics, modern languages, bookkeeping and shorthand, commercial history and geography, besides elementary manual training, and, in rural districts, agricultural instruction, could all be provided under the Act, which, moreover, provides expressly for other subjects which a Local Authority may deem to be required by the circumstances of its District. VARIOUS PURPOSES TO WHICH THE NEW FUND MAY BE APPLIED. The County Council may utilise the new fund for any or all of the following objects, among others : (1) It may aid existing schools and institutions providing technical, manual, or agricultural instruction in the same way as if it were granting rate aid under the Technical Instruction Act, or it may make grants to Local Authorities within the County to be applied by them in a similiar way. This may be done, as stated above, whether or not a rate is raised under the Technical Instruction Act. (2) It may provide modern secondary schools or attach modern or agricultural sides to existing schools, where such are wanting in various parts of the County. There is no reason why instruction should not be also given in such schools, in subjects which cannot be recognised as a * Sometimes called "Middie" Education. part of technical instruction under the Act, provided the cost of such other instruction be defrayed (as it might well be) out of the fund raised by fees or other sources than the new grant, which would be thus exclusively used to assist the subjects enumerated above. (3) It may provide scholarships *to technical and intermediate schools in the County. This power is about to be widely and most judiciously used in Wales under the special Welsh Act, and there is no reason why it should not be equally exercised in England. In many cases the foundation of scholarships tenable at technical or intermediate schools may be the best way of promoting education, especially in Districts where the population is scattered. (4) It may provide instruction in Districts where permanent institutions cannot easily be supported, by means of peripatetic instructors. An example of such instruction which has met with great success is the dairy teaching carried on by itinerant instructors in connection with the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society,† and similar bodies. Again, in North Wales, about £1,000 a year is now being expended with the best results by the University College at Bangor in carrying on such instruction, both by permanent dairy schools and by peripatetic teachers. Good work in this direction is also being done in Cheshire and elsewhere, especially in Munster. Work like this could be well organised by County Councils under their new powers. Or, again, science and art and technological instruction in thinlypopulated Districts can be often best provided by itinerant instructors, while County Councils might often assist education in such Districts in the best possible manner by aiding centres to obtain courses of lectures such as those given under the University Extension schemes of the various Universities.§ Under these schemes courses are delivered by competent University * "There does not appear to be anything in the Act to prevent the application of money out of the rate to the payment of fees of scholars or to scholarships; but as the legality of such an application of the funds is open to argument, and may be questioned by the auditor, it would probably be as well for a Local Authority to take a legal opinion on the point before adopting such a form of aid to instruction."-(Reply of Science and Art Department to question submitted by West Riding County Council, on the interpretation of the Technical Instruction Act). + See Reports of Bath and West of England Agricultural Society. For list of subjects on which grants are made see the "Science and Art Directory" (apply to the Secretary, Science and Art Department, S. W., price 6d.), and the Programme of Technological Examinations of the City and Guilds' Institute (Secretary, Gresham College, E.C.). § For particulars apply to the Rev. G. F. Browne, Syndicate for Local Lectures, Cambridge; Mr. M. E. Sadler, Examination Schools, Oxford; Dr. R. D. Roberts, The Charterhouse, London, E.C.; or the Registrar, Victoria University, Manchester. lecturers on subjects (among others) of a scientific, artistic, and economic character, and small centres which at present cannot afford the fee for such instruction, might be often enabled to do so by a small grant from the County Councils. Peripatetic instructors in wood carving and other forms of manual instruction are supplied by the Home Arts and Industries Association, and a small grant might often be invaluable in aiding evening schools to take advantage of such instruction. The Committee of the National Association will be happy to supply any further information or give any help which will enable County Councils to utilise their powers to the best possible advantage. WHICH AUTHORITY SHOULD ADMINISTER THE FUND? As stated above, the County Council is at liberty to apply the money direct to the assistance of technical instruction in their Districts, or to distribute it through the various Town Councils and Local Boards in the County. Or they may adopt both methods, and this in many cases would seem to be the wisest course to pursue. In Country Districts the County Council is the best, and indeed the only possible, Authority, whereas in Urban Districts the various Town Councils and other Local Authorities, especially those which have already raised a a rate under the Technical Instruction Act, would be often more suitable Authorities for the administration of the grant within their own areas. But again, there are many purposes, such as inspection, founding of scholarships, peripatetic instructors, founding of secondary schools, and the like, which are common to the whole County, and for which, therefore, the Act can be best administered by a County Authority. Subject, therefore, to local circumstances, it would seem to be well that the County Councils should, as a rule, administer the fund direct for the purposes of (a) Technical and agricultural education in rural sanitary districts. (b) Inspection, secondary schools, scholarships, peripatetic instructors, and other objects common to the whole County. The Town Council or Urban Sanitary Authority would be the Authority for general purposes of technical education within its area. In County Boroughs the County Council will be the Authority for all purposes. TECHNICAL AND INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTIONS ACT, 1892. 55 AND 56 VICT. CAP. 29. An Act to facilitate the Acquisition and Holding of Land by Institutions for promoting Technical and Industrial Instruction and Training. [27th June, 1892.] Be it enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, as follows: Short Title. 1. This Act may be cited as the Technical and Industrial Institutions Act, 1892. Definition of Institution. 2. This Act applies to every Institution established, whether before or after the passing of this Act, for effecting all or any of the following purposes, that is to say : (i.) To give technical instruction within the meaning of the Technical Instruction Act, 1889, 52 and 53 Vict. Cap. 76; (ii.) To provide the training, mental or physical, necessary for the above purpose. (iii.) In connection with the purposes before mentioned, to provide workshops, tools, scientific apparatus and plant of all kinds, libraries, reading rooms, halls for lectures, exhibitions, and meetings, gymnasiums, and swimming baths, and also general facilities for mental and physical training, recreation, and amusement, and also all necessary and proper accommodation for persons frequenting the Institution; and every such Institution is in this Act referred to as the Institution. Governing Body. 3. (1) The governing body of the Institution may be any body corporate, Council, Public Authority, Local Authority, Commissioners, Directors, Committee, Trustees, or other body of persons, corporate, or unincorporate, willing to undertake, or elected or appointed for the purpose of undertaking, or having, the government and management of the Institution. (2) The governing body may make bye-laws and rules for the management and conduct of the Institution. Incorporation of 8 and 9 Vict. Cap. 18. 23 and 24 Vict. Cap. 106. 4. The Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, and the Lands Clauses Consolidation Acts Amendment Act, 1860 (except the provisions of those Acts relating to the purchase and taking of lands otherwise than by agreement, and with respect to the entry upon lands by promoters of the undertaking, and with respect to determining the amount of purchase money by valuation of surveyors), are hereby incorporated in this Act. Power to take Land by Agreement. 5. The governing body of the Institution may by agreement enter on, take, and use any land required by them for the purposes of the Institu tion, and such land may be conveyed either to the governing body or to trustees for the governing body. Conveyance may be by way of Sale, Exchange, or Gift. 6. (1) A conveyance of land may be made to the governing body of the institution or to trustees for the governing body either for valuable consideration in money, or in consideration of a rent-charge, or by way of exchange for other land, or, subject as in this Act provided, by way of free gift, and without any consideration. (2) A conveyance under this Act by a person having an equitable estate shall operate to pass any bare outstanding legal estate vested in a trustee. Conveyances by Limited Owners. 7. (1) A conveyance under this Act by a person not entitled to dispose absolutely for his own benefit of the land proposed to be conveyed (other than a conveyance on a sale or exchange for the best consideration in money, or by way of rent-charge, or in land to be reasonably obtained) shall be subject to the following restrictions and provisions : (a) It shall not in itself, or in addition to any land conveyed under this Act by the same person, comprise more than two acres in the whole in any one county, city, or borough: (b) It shall be made either with the consent of the person, if any, entitled to the next estate of freehold in remainder for the time being, or with the approval of the High Court of Justice. (2) Every application to the Court for an order approving a conveyance under this Act shall be by summons in chambers, and shall, subject to the Acts regulating the Court, be assigned to the Chancery Division. (3) On any such application the Court may direct notice to be served on such persons, if any, as it thinks fit. (4) On any such application the Court shall have regard to the circumstances of the settled estate, the wants of the neighbourhood, and the interests of the persons entitled in remainder, and the Court, if it thinks fit under all the circumstances of the case, may make an order approving the proposed conveyance. Such order, if the Court thinks fit, may be made on such terms and conditions, if any, as the Court thinks proper; but no such order shall be made if the application is opposed by any person entitled in remainder, unless the Court is of opinion that the opposition is unreasonable, or the interest of the person opposing so remote that it may properly be disregarded. Institution to be Public. 8. Every institution for which land has been acquired under an exercise of the powers conferred by this Act shall be open generally either to all |