DOCTRINES PROTECTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 464, 20 September 1928, Page 12

DOCTRINES PROTECTED

CHURCH OF ENGLAND BILL APPROVED IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. All objections to the Church of England Empowering Bill having been met, the measure is sure of passing the third reading in the House of Representatives. The Select Committee appointed by the House to consider the Bill and hear evidence presented its report to-day. An important amendment made by the committee is the addition of a clause expressly stating that nothing in the Act shall annul, limit or abridge the inherent power of the Supreme Court to prohibit anything purporting to be done under the Act, on the ground that it is not a bona fide exercise of the powers conferred by the measure. The committee’s report stated that the clause was added to provide for the retention of the inherent jurisdiction of the Civil Court. Another amendment provides clearly that laymen shall elect their representatives on the tribunal and the clergy shall elect theirs. When the strength of the tribunal is added to by the cretaion of a new diocese, the additional members are not to have a vote on any appeal which has been commenced at the date of their consecration or election. Mr. H. Atmore said the question of doctrine had been so protected as to meet the objections made to the measure.

Mr. H. G. R. Mason said the Bill as amended represented the unanimous desires of all parties concerned. Admitting that the fears he had entertained had largely disappeared as the result of the evidence given before the committee, Mr. A. Harris still felt it might have been advisable for Parliament to have deferred its sanction to the proposed alteration in the constitution until it was known what would happen.

Mr. W. J. Girling said the Bill made ample safeguards to prevent anything being done that would imperil the doctrines of the Church. In reply, the chairman of the committee, Mr. F. Hockly, said one of the most important statements made before the committee was that of Archbishop Averill, that the disestablishment of the Church of England at Home was not the impossibility some people thought. Under the present conditions in New Zealand the adoption of a revised Prayer Book in New Zealand, could be carried by one vote,, but under the Bill there would have to be a majority of two-thirds in each order and a majority of the diocesan synods as well. The committee’s report was tabled.