27 MARCH 1886, Page 3

Three Bills for the commutation of eitraordinary tithe and for

amending the mode in which ordinary tithe is com- muted, were discussed on Wednesday, read a second time, and referred finally to a Select Committee, which was empowered to report on all three without being committed to the principle of any one of them. And it was especially agreed that this Committee should prepare a separate report on extraordinary tithe,—the tithe on hop-gardens, market-gardens, and fruit- orchards, left uncommuted in 1836, because it was thought difficult to assume any lengthened period during which-crops of this degree of value would be raised on any particular area of soil. Many of the speakers on Wednesday, indeed, took for granted that such crops as these are more nearly allied to manufactures in the comparative value of the capital invested, and the slight proportion which the acreage covered bears to the value of the crop. Some of the speakers appeared to think, for instance, that in commuting ex- traordinary tithe on hop-land, the Commissioners ought not to value it at more than three years' parches% while others seemed to regard:it as likely to be commuted at thirty years purchase. The popular bitterness expressed against-the " extraordinary" tithe as it is levied in Kent and Surrey was. ery strong.