WELSH CHURCH BILL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1781, 20 June 1913, Page 5

WELSH CHURCH BILL.

UNIONISTS WILL REVERSE THE GOVERNMENT'S ACT. "POLITICS BEFORE RELIGION." By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, June 18. During the discussion in the House of Commons on the Welsh Church Disestablishment Bill (which passed its second reading by 357 votes to 258), the Primo Minister, Mr. Asquith, argued that it was unthinkable that the Bill would prevent the Church in Wales, after disestablishment, co-operating with the Church in England for all Church purposes. The weightiest portion of tho speech was that wherein lis emphasised the fact of the garnered memories and traditions of tho W T olsh people. Another notable speech was that delivered by Mr. W. C. G. Gladstone (Liberal), who deplored the Church's refusal of the invitation to accept a compromise, adding: "It is not the Government that has shut the door." Ho stated that the Liberal Churchmen would be unable to propose amendments at the suggestion stage. Mr. Bonar Law (Unionist Leader) declared that the Nonconformists were putting politics before religion. They liked the Bill, but those putting Teligion before politics hated it. He denied that Wales alone was entitled to settle a question that was interesting the whole of Britain. Clearly, tho Opposition's duty, when it got into office, would be to reverso what the Government was doing. Sir Edward Beauchamp (Liberal)' voted with the minority.