vni TECHNICAL EDUCATION 



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first, that none of the grant could be spent in awarding 

 scholarships ; secondly, that the areas over which the 

 authorities had control were unnecessarily limited ; and 

 thirdly, that the regulations for allocating the funds 

 were of too inelastic a character. So the National 

 Association entrusted me with a Bill to remove these 

 deficiencies, and this was one of the few private Bills 

 which during the session of 1891 became law. That 

 the provisions of this Act were much needed is clearly 

 shown by the facts that at least one million sterling is 

 now spent by County and County Borough Councils 

 upon scholarships alone, and that the other clauses of the 

 Act have proved to be of an equally beneficial character. 



These Acts paved the way for the systematic 

 development of secondary education which is now 

 quickly taking place under the Education Act of 1902. 

 This latter Act constituted one local authority for the 

 purposes of all forms of education in administrative 

 counties and county boroughs. But it is to be borne 

 in mind that, whilst the Act repealed the Technical 

 Instruction Act of 1889, it nevertheless included pro- 

 visions which covered even a wider field. For instance, 

 it enabled the local authorities to deal with higher 

 education as a whole and not simply technical 

 instruction. But, what was of even greater import- 

 ance, it secured the permanent appropriation to educa- 

 tion of the " Whisky Money " which had so long been 

 allowed to remain at the option of the local authorities. 



The Association is still in full activity under the 

 careful superintendence of our respected secretary, 

 Mr. Frederick Oldman. It not only watches with 

 scrupulous care the action of the Government in 

 educational matters, but it acts as a consultative agent 

 to all interested in the subject. It publishes a 

 quarterly record of the action and proposals of local 



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