§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ (12.10.) MR. H. H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)I should like to explain how this Bill comes down from the House of Lords. Some years ago an Act was passed for enabling the Trustees of Nonconformist chapels to be appointed in a very simple and inexpensive manner. That Act was intended to apply to Nonconformist chapels in England. Shortly afterwards the Court of Chancery decided that the Act did not extend to chapels held in trust for denominations, but only to chapels held in trust for a specific congregation. The effect of this decision was to exclude 1034 all Wesleyan Chapels from the benefits of the Act. The object of this Bill is to provide that the old Act shall include Wesleyan chapels. If this Bill is passed it will very much reduce the cost of and facilitate the appointment of new Trustees. It is a purely technical Bill. It has been drawn by an eminent conveyancer, and it comes down with the sanction of the Lord Chancellor and Lord Herschell. It will prove an act of justice to a large section of English Nonconformists, and, therefore, I hope the House will agree to the Second Reading.
§ *MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to refer the Bill to the Standing Committee on Law?
§ *MR. H. H. FOWLERPersonally, I am prepared to take it as it comes from the House of Lords.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for to-morrow.