A TRUCE AT LAST

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 23, 27 July 1933, Page 7

A TRUCE AT LAST

ENGLAND'S TIJHE WAR

There is a truce in the tithe war which has been Avaged in England during the past few years. The tithepayers in many parts of ; the country had organised themselves- so 'well that it became almost impossible to carry out a distraint, and wl^eu the authorities seized cattle and goods and auctioned them to j)ay the tithe tax, the sale became farcical because of the absurd bids offered, says ;a.n JEnglish paper. Thus the auctioneer would put up a prime steer for sale, and the first bid would be £50,000:. "Dp, please, be serious," remarked the auctioneer, and he would then be faced by a new bid of 2d. ' •■ . :

Some memths ago the Saffvon Walden branch of the National Tithepayers' Association, took lip the matter of the

tithe with the authorities of Queen Anne's Bounty. The deputation from that body was received at the Bounty offices in Dean's Yard, Westminster, with every sympathy. The case for the farmers was put plainly and without exaggeration before, the Bounty, and has since been fully discussed. The outcome of these negotiations and the possible trend of events was revealed at a meeting of the Saffron Walden Tithepayers' Association.

Mr. H. Lewis Selby, the accredited representative in London of the Association, then stated that th.c tithe tax, at a moderate estimate, kept out of work at least 25,000 farm workers who could be employed at a wage of 30s a week. V Mr. Selby stated that the negotiations, under the guidance of Colonel D. J. Smith, chairman of the association, were proceeding satisfactorily, and would probably form the ' basis .of a

settlement of tithe arrears in th 6 dis» trict. He. believed further that the action [f>p the Saffron ; Walden branch might eventually lead to a national settlement. *

"The tithe question," Mr. Selby added, "can be settled definitely-— •without hardship to the farmer, with greater advantage to the incumbent, and with very little, if any, disadvantage to the Church, and such minute disadvantage to the Government thit it is not worth, talking about." The tone of the meeting may be judged from the fact that Mr. Selby's statement, "I do not believe there is a man of right mind who wants to see his rector or vicar suffer," was received with loud cheers. ■.■-■'

It may tie due'to the fact that thesft hopeful negotiations are proceeding that summonses against a large number of fanners who had to appear before the local Court for non-payment 6t tithes were adjourned. ,