THE CHURCH IN WALES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14977, 24 April 1909, Page 9

THE CHURCH IN WALES.

THE NEW DISESTABLISHMENT BILL. United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, April 22. In the House of Commons, Mr Asquith introduced a Bill for the disestablishment of the Church in Wales, in 1911. Tho Bill will exclude the Welsh Bishops from tho House of Lords and appoint (1) until 1915 a Welsh Commissioner, to deal with Church property; (2) a Council oi Wales, appointed by the County and other Councils, to act as receiver, subject to specified interests; (3) a representative Church body, to receive all cathedrals, churches, chapels of ease, bishop's palaces, parsonages, and closed burial grounds, and also all benefactions dating from 1662. It is explained that property vested in the Council of Wales will be devoted to hospitals, provision for nurses for sick poor, public halls, institutions, and technical higher education, according to the County Council schemes. The Welsh members acclaimed the Bill, especially tho now feature of the Welsh Council, believing that fresh duties will ultimately be entrusted to the Council, making it a powerful central authority for dealing with all Welsh matters.

The Unionists, opposing the Bill, denounced its introduction before the Vaughan-Williams Commission had reported, but strongly doubted whether the measure would proceed beyond the second reading.