DATE OF EASTER

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 121, 20 February 1928, Page 8

DATE OF EASTER

DEBATED IN HOUSE OF COMMONS SECOND READING CARRIED Rugby, February 17. After an interesting debate the House of Commons to-day passed the second reading of a Bill providing for the stabilisation of Easter. The Bill fixes the festival on the first Sunday after the second Saturday iu April. Moving the second reading, Captain Bourne (C.) said that when this question was referred to the Council of the League of Nations there was almost a unanimity of opinion that the date chosen should be towards the end of the first part of April, after the second Sunday, and not later than the third. The date in the Bill was an attempt to compromise between these views. It was provided that the Bill, if it were passed, should not come into operation until a date to be fixed by the Government, because this country could not stabilise Easter with a total disregard of the rest of the world. Sir Henry Slesser (Lab.) moved the rejection of the Bill, declaring that no adequate reason had been shown for altering the system of fixing a religious festival which had existed for sixteen hundred years. He pointed out that the Roman Church could not come to a decision on the subject, because no change could be made by the Oecumenical Council, which would not be held until next year. The Anglican and Greek Churches were not prepared to act, except in agreement with other Churches. If the Bill became law without agreement with the Churches there would be two Easters, secular and religious, and a consequent confusion. Mr. Merriman (C.) said that the arrangement whereby Easter immediately followed the full moon afforded a better chance of good weather, and he cited statistics of rainfall to illustrate his point.

Sir William Joynson-Hicks, Home Secretary, said that the Government desired to leave this matter entirely to the decision of the House. If the House passed the Bill the Government would regard it as an intimation of their wish for the Government to proceed with various inquiries. Fortified with the view of the House, the Government could go definitely to other

countries of Europe and other ecclesiastical authorities, and say that the House of Commons had adopted it. He would then ask the Foreign Secretary to summon a conference of the nations interested. Sir Henry Slesser then withdrew his rejection amendment, and the Bill was read a second time without devision.--British Official Wireless. LONG NEGOTIATIONS PROBABLE (Rec. February 19, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 17. Though the House of Commons has read a second time the Stabilisation of Easter Bill, lobbyists point out that, even if it passes its remaining stages, Easter may continue to wander about the calendar for many years First there must be international negotiations for an agreement between States, and similarly between Churches. If a general agreement is reached a resolution of both Houses is needed to put the Bill into force. DOMINIONS EXCLUDED (Rec. February 19, 5.5 p.m.) London, February IS. Clause four of Captain Bourne’s Stabilisation of Easter Bill specifically excludes the Dominions, which he says are competent to legislate for themselves. Their inclusion would not be ultra vires, but would be ultra rationem. —A.P.A. and “Sun.”