WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1662, 31 January 1913, Page 5

WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT.

\ BILLTmoUGH THE COMMONS. By Toleirapli-Prflßß Alaoelatlon-Oopyrliht ■ ■■■ '.''. .'. •','■' ;London, January 29.; The Welsh Chiron . Disestablishment Bill passed its-committee stage in tho House of : Commons. ■■'~' . Lord Konyon will move tho rejection of the Bill in the House of Lords.

. The.reduction 6f the .Government majority to 50 in the Welsh Church Bill division on December 14 (says the London 'Observer") is.an more significance than tho mere numbers would Indicate. A majority of .50 is substantial enough for a Unionist Government, but not for a. Coalition, and the Ministry cannot avoid the conclusions that an analysis of the figures compels—namely, that there is an overwhelming majority of' English public opinion on the Bido of the dissentient Liberals, who showed by vote or abstention their disapproval of tho ungenerous disendowment clauses of tho Welsh Bill. . ~-, . r,.

The analysis of the division list dhows that eleven Liberals voted against the Government and in favour of Mr. Gerald Franco's.amendment limiting disendowment to tithe English members or Englishmen. There were in addition sixteen Liberals unaccounted for by pairs, some of whom were actually in the House at the time of the division and did not vote. It is-remarkable that the total of the absentees and the dissentients who voted—27—is tho same as tho attendance at the last meeting in the Committee rooms in support of Mr. France's amendment, • when, after hearing Mr M'Kenntvnnd Mr. Linyd-Goorgc, tho members then present agreed to support the Government. The vote by nationalities (adds the ''Observer") would bo striking if it were worked out in detail, as show'lng Mow overwhelming is the vote in Etig. land goalnit th» proposal* of the Govwameat, ■ . -J