19 NOVEMBER 1927, Page 14

Country Life

TrrnE on No TrrnE.

A legal point of the highest importance to the landowner fanner and to the Church has been raised in the Eastern Counties and is engaging the attention of the law. A farmer and owner has postponed the full payment of tithe on the ground of a clause in one of the many Tithe Acts, passed towards the end of the period of the great depression in the land. It is claimed that tithe is no longer payable if the annual value of the land falls below two-thirds of the amount of the tithe. I understand that a legal ruling on the point is not to be expected before late in January next. Should this argument be then upheld, the results would be almost revolutionary in the East of England, in the Midlands, and some of the Home Counties.