to reach the House of Commons. Unfortunately but a few of those amendments were discussed during the debates in the House.
"It would be idle-to disguise our disappointment wi e,. the result. Our disappointment is all the greater because of the number of M.P.s who recognised the justice of the Catholic claims, but who were content with voicing their sympathy lest more effective action would be regarded as hurtful to the unity of the Government in the prose-. cation of the war effort.
" The volume of support our claims received from private members (admittedly due to the efforts of the C.P.E.A. throughout the country) was remarkable, and we are very grateful to those members who voiced our claims during the debates, but we are profoundly disappointed. with the slight influence which these speeches had on the Government.
" The passing of the Bill, in our judgment, makes the existence of the C.P.E.A. more necessary than ever. There are mountains of prejudice against the voluntary schools in general, and Catholic schools in particular, to be overcome either • at the Board of Education or among some of the L.E.A.s. All the strength that the C.P.E.A. can muster will he required to remove this prejudice. To this end we look forward to the spread of the Association into every diocese in the country, and ultimately the formation of a national body which will have to be recognised by the Government.
WORK OF THE BRANCHES " The main work of the branches since their inception has been wholly concerned with the new Education proposals. The branches have held 800 committee meetings, 260 parish meetings, and in addition there have been demonstrations in most towns in the diocese, and if we include the two big meetings in Manchester at Piccadilly and Belle We, more than 106,000 people have attended those meetings. All branches contacted their local M.P.s. either by interview or correspondence, and as a rectal we are able to say of the M,P.s in the diocese, 19 are favourable to our claims. 4 unfavourable, and II non-committal."
The report concludes:
" On the question of the future work of the Association, apart from the very serious demands which the new Education Bill will make, we would here give the headings of some proposals made at the last meeting of the Executive Committee, which the General Executive Council will have an opportunity of discussing. These proposals inchnie the setting up of committees of this Association to deal with Educational legislation, such' post-war problems as Plowing. health. juvenile delineueneY• juvenile employment. the employment of ex-Service men and women. Catholic representation on public bodies and the training of Cathoacs to lake a fuller share in public life."