I do hold that the Universities can and ought, as far as they are able, to take a direct part in the training of teachers. I hope and trust that we shall see a development in that direction. I might not personally feel enthusiastic about this particular scheme or that particular scheme, but that is not necessary. If Universities bring forward schemes for the training of teachers, and if it is possible for the Government with its resources, doling them out in due proportion, to finance these schemes, I would be content with a very moderate claim to criticise or to modify. I would have the fullest confidence that the Universities themselves; with due deliberation, would shape schemes in connection with the training of teachers that would be entirely advantageous and beneficial. There again as I say the main point with regard to Government co-operation means providing the financial resources. I presume that, at least, a proper scheme for the training of teachers in direct association with the Universities would mean an extension of the term of training by one year, and that again would mean an increase of 50 per cent. or thereabouts, in the financial provision already made for the training of teachers. That brings me back to the starting point. We are up against the same difficulty. Not this Government, not this Ministry has been defeated, but this country has been defeated—only for the time, of course— defeated for the time in doing things which are necessary, which are valuable, which every patriotic man and woman ought to desire to see done and to see the country enabled to do. The country has been defeated for the time being. I will end with a plea which I would like to be able to address to everyone of my fellow-countrymen. There is hardly anything more patriotic that an Irishman or an Irishwoman could aim at bringing about at this present juncture of time, hardly anything that would more fully prove their devotion and loyalty to this country than—in whatever way each one finds it possible, and with all the enthusiasm that a right, patriotic endeavour could inspire in us—to restore this country to the position of credit, of command of resources, of financial prospects and financial actualities, on which it should have embarked a year and a half ago.
With regard to a point upon which I was asked to say something, Deputy Magennis quite properly said that I am not accountable for the manner in which University Professors are remunerated, or the manner in which they discharge their duties. I made such inquiries here as I could on the spot, and I am able to give this answer. Professor or General James Hogan—for whom those who know him as a student and a teacher as well as those who know him in his more recent capacity as an able military commander have nothing but the highest respect and esteem— receives his ordinary salary from University College, Cork, and pays for a substitute. The only money he receives from the Army is the amount which he pays to his substitute as locum tenens.