SAFETY OF PROPERTY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 439, 22 August 1928, Page 16

SAFETY OF PROPERTY

CHURCH OF ENGLAND’S LEGAL POSITION EMPOWERING BILL EXPLAINED (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. An explanation of the objects of the Church of England Empowering Bill was given by Sir James Allen in the Legislative Council this evening when the measure was read the second time and referred to a Committee of Selection.

The Bill had not been introduced because of any legislative action that had recently been taken in the Old Country, said Sir James. The movement had started in 1871, when changes took place in regard to the legal position of the Church of England. In the event of any alteration in the Constitution of the Church of England in New Zealand, or any alteration in the Prayer Book, the question of the Church’s rights in regard to property held by it might be raised. This Bill had been introduced to make provision for the safety of that property and to remove any doubt regarding the legal position. The matter had been considered by General Synod in 1874 and reviewed in 1902, 1910 and 1925. In 1925 a definite Bill was formulated and passed on by General Synod to the diocesan synods, all of which agreed to the proposals, with the exception of Dunedin. Ultimately the objections of Dunedin were removed as the result of a compromise which was embodied in the present Bill. The Hon. G. J. Garland said he did not intend to oppose the second reading of the Bill, but he had a letter from a Mr. G. W. Leadley in regard to it. He would ask the Select Committee to send for Mr. Leadley to enable him to give evidence. Sir Robert Stout said the Bill was not an ordinary private Bill. Much property had been given by the State to the Church of England for educational endowments, and the State was much concerned in seeing who the trustees of that property were.