HC Deb 02 May 1881 vol 260 cc1650-1
MR. INDERWICK

said, he was prepared, if necessary, to give up the latter part of the Motion of which he had given Notice—namely, that relating to the redemption of ordinary tithes.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire as to the expediency of abolishing extraordinary Tithe Rent-charges, and providing a scheme for their redemption upon equitable terms; and also to inquire into and report upon the expediency of providing greater facilities for the redemption of ordinary Tithes upon equitable terms."—(Mr. Inderwick.)

MR. PELL

thought that, on account of the great importance of the questions involved, the Motion should hardly be taken at that hour (2.20). Again, he considered that the appointment of a Committee to settle the whole question of Tithe Rent-charge was a matter of too great weight to be taken in hand by a private Member, and its adjustment upon equitable principles in accordance with the general desire of the country was clearly a matter to be dealt with by the Government of the day. For his own part, however, he had never heard any desire expressed that the question should be dealt with at all, either by those who paid tithes or those who received them.

MR. COURTNEY

pointed out that the Motion of the hon. and learned Member for Rye (Mr. Inderwick), as it originally stood, was simply for a Committee to inquire into the expediency of abolishing extraordinary Tithe Rent-charges. He thought that the Inquiry should be restricted to that, point, and if the latter part of the Motion were omitted, he was prepared to assent to the appointment of the Committee. In conclusion, he would move that the terms of Reference be omitted so far as they related to providing greater facilities for the redemption of ordinary tithes.

Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word "terms," in line 3, to the end of the Question.—(Mr. Courtney.)

Question proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question."

MR. INDERWICK

said, that if the Government were of opinion that the Committee should confine its labours to an inquiry into the extraordinary tithes, he was content to accept that, and withdraw his Motion as to the rest.

EARL PERCY

said, he objected to the appointment of a Committee, when the terms of the Reference seemed to be undecided in the mind even of the hon. and learned Member who proposed it. The subject was an important one, and the House should not be asked to decide it at half-past 2 in the morning. He should move the adjournment of the debate.

MR. WARTON

seconded the Motion, partly because of the thin attendance.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Debate be now adjourned."—(Earl Percy.)

MR. RATHBONE

said, he begged to point out that that was not a thin House at all.

MR. COURTNEY

hoped the noble Earl would, on re-consideration, not press his Motion. This question of the extraordinary tithes was no now one, and it was desirable that it should be considered. It was, at the same time, a question of great complexity, and could not be approached without a preliminary Inquiry.

Question put, and negatived.

Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question," put, and negatived.

Main Question, as amended, put, and agreed to. Resolved, That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire as to the expediency of abolishing extraordinary Tithe Rent-charges, and providing a scheme for their redemption upon equitable terms.