The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-20 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIA BUNT

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Tim DAY.
Tho SPHAIER took the chair at twelve o'clock.
CLIURCEI RATE ABOLITION BILL.

Mr. HARDCASTLE moved the second reading of the

bill, the object of which was to enable the £50,000 or
£60,000, the sum estimated as sufficient to keep the dif,
ferent churches of the Established Church of thu country,

to be raised by voluntary contribution. Various
sehemes of compromise had failed, and he thought
the only way of surmounting the difficulty which had led
to heartburuing and ill-feeling was to adopt the principle
embodied in the bill.

Mr. B. HOPE objected to the measure, and moved that
the bill be read a second time that day six months. He
contended that arguments of "ticketing" was a most ab-
surd way of dealing with the question of church rates.
Everybody was " ticketed ;" the members of that house
were ticketed M.P., some D.C.L.; and the use of such a
clap trap argument was only worthy of a posting placard
at a contested election.

Mr. GORSE seconded the amendment. If the bill was
passed the deserving poor would be the parties who would
suffer by the falling off of the contributions to the offertory.
Sir G. GREY said the matter had been so frequently
discussed, it becomes quite unnecessary for him to detain
the house for any length of time. He could not help
remarking the empty state of the Treasury bench at a
time when a question so important was under discus-
sion, because he thought that the Government ought to
express its opinion on the bill of his hon. friend. Ho
thought it contained the germ for the future settlement of
this much contested question.
Sir W. HEAT IWO TE supported the amendment moved
by the hon. member for Stoke (Mr. Hope).
Mr. READ was of opinion that the best way of stating
this question would be to read all the bills proposed to be
introduced a second time and then to refer them to a
select committee. He thought that was the only course
that was at all likely to bring about an equitable settle-
ment of the question.
Mr. SOOURFIELD said there was much to be said in
favour of the bill of the hon. gentleman opposite, but he
could not give it his support, because he knew the clergy
were ►ouch opposed to having to go round annually and
make collections for the maintaining the church in repair.
There was nothing sensational in it.

Mr. nESIINGTON MILLS sail a groat deal had been
said about the churches boiug in disrepair, but he thought
it would be well if some information was given as to
where a church was situated iu which the repairs were not
greeted by voluntary contribution. If the landlords
would let their land freo of Church Rates that course
would at once settle the question.

Lord JOHN MANNERS said the reason the members
of the Government were absent at the commencement of
the sitting was that a Cabinet council was being hold at
twelve o'clock. It had been said that this side of the
house had done their utmost to resist the abolition of
church rates, but that he denied. His side of the house
had always expressed a desire to agree to a compromise,
but all the proposals that had been made in that direction
for the last 30 years had been rejected by those hon. mem-
bers who represented the dissenting interest on the other
side. He heartily and entirely dissented from the prin-
ciple of the bill under discussion, and, therefore, he
should give his veto against the second reading.
Mr. HUBBARD supported the amendment. He was
against unconditional abolition, but in favour of a com-
promise.
Mr. NEATE said they were about to alter the constitu-
tion of the house, and therefore that matter might well be
left to the decision of the country. He could nut give his
vote in favour of the second reading of the bill, as he was
anxious that the bill of the hon. member for Stoke (Mr.
Hope) which proposed a compromise should be taken into
consideration. _ _

Mr. F. CHAMBERS was of opinion that no compromise
in the matter would work. There must either be total
abolition or no change in the present system.
Mr. BASS was in favour of the abolition of the com-
pulsory payment of church rates, because he knew in-
stances in parishes where it had been adopted the best re-
sults had followed. In a parish which paid the highest
rates in the district a sum of £260, or thereabouts, was
annually raised from amongst those residents willing
his to
pay, those objecting to do so being passed over. t
tpaorioshhotrhoehocslewrgeyro in werethaollbornset pnoofsstihoelehrigepaheisrt, ianotqlpeligresonceoB,
h
of all denominations lived peaceably together.
First
Mr. NE WDEGATE said he was willing to go the length
oohf
ucoronhserantteinog.tEo thesaaidbotlhiteionnobolfe
compulsory
f
o
Mr. GOSOaN
sioner of Works having stated that he was in favour of a
d the payment
mnl os
hoof wthoeuldsalloikee
tt,opikonfo oow;
ovnwoulillsrTawtere,
assentr to the compromise by support-
itwczhothgenkpthhrteoehrm:i tlG:oy
seconderntin reading of the bill, and adopt the compro-
mise proposed by the hon. member for Hastings?
Mr. WALPOLE replied by stating that when they were
in Ale,' eight years ago they brought forward a bill to
effect a compromise, and they still adhered to the principle
of that bill. Ile thought the Church Rates Regula-
tion 13111 a fair compromise; but when they were asked to
consent to the total abolition of church rates they should
offer to that proposition their determined opposition. They
were ready to consider any bill which would throw the
rate upon the landlord instead of the occupier, and to ex-
empt those who did not belong to the church from coutri-
butiug to its support.
Mr. GLADSTONE said the point really remaining was
whether compulsory powers should remain to be put in
force, not against those who were willing to pay but
against those who were unwilling ; and as a disinclination
had been expressed by the supporters of the bill to consider
such a proposition in committee, he should give his vote
in favour of the second reading of the bill.
The house then divided, when there appeared--
For the second reading
Against it

Majority
Tho bill was accordingly read a second time.
CHURCH-RATES COMMUTATION BILL.

Mr. NEWDEGATE moved the second reading of this
bill, the object of which was to enable the parishioners to
impose a rate of 2d. in the pound on the property in the
parish for the maintenance of repairs of tho church.
Mr. Sergeant GAZELEE moved that the bill bo read a
second time that day six months.
Tho house divided, when there appeared—
For the second reading
Against

Majority 132
Tho bill wns consequently
UHURCHI BATE It'EGULATION BILL.
Mr. HUBBARD postponed the •inotion for the second
reading of this bill uutil next Wednesday.
BELIGIOUS BUILDINGS (SITES) BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
SALE AND PUROHASE OF SHARES BILL.
The hons, then went into committee on this bill.
Progress was reported at a quarter to six-, and shortly
after which the house adjourned.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

GAvzszxn, Wednesday Morning.

•
Arrived, March 19—Normandie, steamer, from Dunkirk.
Arrived, March 20—Orion, steamer, from Rotterdam
Giraffe, steamer, from Boulogne; Fusilier, steamer, from
Dunkirk.
Sailed, March 19—Soontar, for New York.
Sailed, March 20—SVhisper, for St. Lucia; Panther,
steamer, fur Boulogne; Lord J. Russell, steamer, for Dun-
kirk; Velocity, steamer, for Calais.
DEAL, Wednesday Morning.
Passed, March 19—Wynaud, from London, for Colombo;
Chanticleer, from London, for Nagasaki.
Anchored—Blackburn (of Preston), from London, for
Dublin.