VICAR FIGHTS DEFAULTERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21396, 20 October 1934, Page 3 (Supplement)

VICAR FIGHTS DEFAULTERS

NAMES ON CHURCH DOOR MORE TROUBLE AT HAUGHLEY A typewritten notice pinned to the door of the quaint 14th-century church at Haughley, Suffolk, has been bringing fresh upheaval to the trouble-riddled old-world village. Haughley, strange to say, has not been free from quarrels for years. If it has not been the water supply, choristers have fallen out among themselves, or .parishioners have come to grips over the appointment of a churchwarden. Quarrels, indeed, have become part of the daily life of Haughley.

The little list which was found on the , church door contained the names of eight persons who had failed to meet their tithe responsibilities. It was signed by the vicar, the Rev. Walter G. White, and announced that more than £250 was owing by the eight farmers. The noticed vanished, but Haughley, true to tradition, was saying strong words about the vicar's action.

! When a News of the World representative called at the vicarage, Mr. White was painting the windows of his house. " 1 had intended," he stated, " to read the names from the pulpit every Sunday morning for a week ox two. That would have upset them a bit more. Then I decided it would be equally effective to ' post ' the names of the defaulters on the church door. I took legal opinion first, and am assured that I was within the law After all, they owe the money. " I am struggling on here, trying to make ends meet. We cannot afford a maid. My wife has had a breakdown struggling to do parish and house work. I am no believer in tithes. I would like to see the tithe system abolished at once. But meantime I must live, and if I have to shame people into paying, I suppose I'll just have to do it. The list was not intended to be a black list.' It was merely the publication of the names of those who have not paid. " I believe my action has served its purpose; so yesterday I took the notice down. But the trouble in Haughley goes much deeper than the mere posting of this scrap of paper. I am fighting a battle here. A battle against the snobs. The people who should help are against me. That is why this village, which should be so peaceful, is so discontented."

Meantime, Haughley is going to test the legalitv of the vicar's action.