HL Deb 27 April 1874 vol 218 cc1172-3
LORD BLACHFORD

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, What steps have been taken to obtain from the Colonies the information desired by the Select Committee on the Colonial Church Bill, and when it is likely to be laid before the House?

THE EARL OF CARNARVON

said, that a number of answers had been received front the Colonies in reply to the Circular which had been sent to them on the subject referred to in the noble Lord's Question. Some Colonies had not, however, yet sent replies. He was ready to lay the Correspondence on the Table of the House, although it was not yet completed. It related mainly to the devolution of Church property on the death of a Bishop; and he might mention that, out of 19 Colonies which had forwarded replies, 15 were content with local Acts and opposed to Imperial legislation, and four only took an opposite view. The general conclusion he had arrived at from a perusal of the Papers was, that it was wiser for the present to rely on the Colonial Acts and Ordinances than to propose any measure to the Imperial Parliament.

    c1172
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