Industrial Training and Technical Education. 35 



I am glad to hear that trades unions in this city are in favour 

 of technical training. My observation has been, that this 

 sentiment is general ; but I am aware of instances where it has 

 been sought to make technical education conditional upon 

 membership of a trades union. This is what I demur to. T 

 have always been in favour of the principle of trades unionism, 

 and for that very reason have been opposed to its excrescences 

 and perversion of its legitimate objects, 



I do not agree with Mr. Scott's statement as regards my 

 attitude towards the Belfast Corporation. My object has been, 

 ever since I have been here, to support them and strengthen 

 their hands, for which I have received many acknowledgements 

 from the chief magistrates. It is a curious argument against a 

 more useful kind of elementary education to say that Belfast 

 has turned out some able men, and a still more remarkable 

 argument in depreciation of a high rate of lyphoid and pre- 

 ventable disease to say that Belfast builds big ships and is 

 celebrated for its linen manufactures. It may be that the evils 

 I have alluded to and the successes Mr. Scott refers to are not 

 wholly unconnected. It rather reminds one of Lord Macaulay's 

 summary of the character of Charles I. In this, I am quite 

 sure, we shall all agree, that the co existence of evil and good 

 are quite possible, but it affords no possible reason for neglecting 

 to remedy the evil. 



