674 report — J 878. 



licensing laws, in the poor laws, and in a host of other minor subjects. The prin- 

 ciple which should regulate all legislation for Ireland might be thus stated: 

 Firstly, — In all legislation regarding matters which affect equally the people of 

 both countries no differences whatever should be permitted. In the next place 

 where similar results could not be obtained by identical means, the difference of 

 means should be as far as possible minimised ; and the absolute condition should be 

 insisted on that legislation should be simultaneous. And lastly, where special 

 legislation was a necessity, it should aim at bringing the matters that formed the 

 subject of such legislation as far as possible into harmony in the two countries. 

 The rules which should be followed to give effect to these principles might be thus 

 stated : — No measure that came under the first of these principles should be intro- 

 duced into either House of Parliament for England only, but should be made to 

 extend to both countries. When special clauses were required to adapt a measure 

 to the institutions of Ireland, the necessary clauses, instead of being postponed to a 

 future period, and then made a separate Act, as now so often happens, should be 

 tacked on to the principal Act. The Ballot Act showed how, even in a large and 

 very complicated subject, simultaneous legislation was possible. Certain cases re- 

 mained where the subject would be of such a nature or extent that a separate Act 

 for Ireland would be required. Under this class would come all the legislation 

 which would have to be effected to assimilate Irish to English institutions, 

 and to bring Irish laws into harmony with English laws. In these cases the 

 English precedent should be followed as closely as possible, and every unnecessary 

 difference avoided. If the principles here stated were kept steadily in view and 

 systematically acted on, a considerably increased degree of legislative uniformity 

 would soon be attained ; and what was also very important, a guarantee would be 

 afforded that such uniformity would be lasting. 



2. On the Importance of raising Ireland to the Level of England and Scot- 

 land in the matter of Industrial Schools and Compulsory Education. 

 By W. Neilson Hancock., LL.D* 



The official statistics of children committed to reformatories in Ireland show 

 that only 10 per cent, of the boys and none of the girls were properly educated. 

 More than half the girls and three-fifths of the boys were totally ignorant. To 

 remedy the state of ignorance disclosed, the following suggestions as to industrial 

 schools were recommended for adoption: — The suggestions of the Recorder of 

 Dublin (Mr. Falkiner) that Lord Sandon's clause in the Act of 1876, for establish- 

 ing day industrial schools, should be extended to Ireland. The suggestion of Mr. 

 Lentaigne, Inspector of Reformatory Schools, that the full benefit of English law 

 as to industrial boarding schools should be extended to Ireland. As to compulsory 

 education, it is proposed to follow the Scotch Act of 1872, only substituting in the 

 details Irish existing centralized official machinery for the Scotch local machinery. 

 Elementary education of children between five and thirteen to be obligatory on 

 parents. Guardians to be enabled, in case of poverty, to pay school fees. Irish 

 police to collect information as to neglect of parents, as officers of local boards do 

 in Scotland, and to prosecute — unless medical officer, as to health, clergyman, as to 

 family reasons, or inspector of National schools, as to want of school accommoda- 

 tion, certified that parent might be excused. Where National School inspector 

 reported school accommodation deficient, or justices refused to convict for that 

 reason, reports to be referred to Commissioners of Donations and Bequests, to see 

 if any unused endowments were applicable, and the inspector of industrial schools 

 to see if want could be met by industrial day schools and other voluntary effort. 

 From such reports could be collected, as to whether assistance for industrial and 

 primary education would be necessary, like that afforded to intermediate education 

 by the Irish Intermediate Education Act of 1878. 



* Published in ' Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland,' 

 part liv., vol. vii., p. 348. 



