IMPERIAL POLITICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 181, 30 January 1912, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS

MR. BONAR LAW'S SPEECH. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. London, January 28. Unionist newspapers applaud Mr. Bonar Law's speech, which they term the best fighting speech for years. WIXSII DISESTABLISHMENT. London, January 28. Leading Wesleyans have issued a manifesto urging that any scheme of disenidowment in Wales may be just and rather err on the side of generosity to our Episcopalian brethren. The question of the disestablishment of the church of Wales has for many years held a foremost position in the Liberal programme. So long ago as 1894 it fell to Mr. Asquith, on behalf of the Liberal Government, to bring in a Bill for the same purpose, and the prospective measure is on the same lines. According to the Liberal Monthly, "the broad practical ground on which the case for the Bill rests is the fact that the Church in Wales is only the church of a small minority of the Welsh people. Every test, both religious and political, that can be applied, proves this to be true. All round, the figures show a three to one preponderance on the side of Nonconformity. Politically, too, the case is overwhelming. For more than 20 years the Welsh people have voted by great majorities for the disestablishment (in 190(5 the majority was over 91,000, nearly double what it was in 1805). During the same time almost all their representatives have been in favor of it, never more than five out of the thirty-four have voted against it, while in 1900 every Welsh member was returned pledged to it. As Mr. Asquith said, a demand supported like than cannot be refused on any ground that is consistent with democratic principles.