On Thursday, June 18th, the Minister of Agriculture moved the
second reading of the Tithe Bill. The War and subsequent fluctuations of prices brought out the dis- content of many people with the system based on the septennial average. of corn prices. It is greatly to the credit of the clerical tithe-owners that while the cost of living has risen they have made no effort to cling to their. legal right to an income increased in proportion. This would now be about 72 per cent. above the basis of the Act of 1836. It was artificially stabilized in 1918 at £109 3s. 11d. It is now proposed to fix it at £109 10s., of which £105. will be paid to the tithe-owner and £4 10s. will go to a sinking fund which should extinguish the whole charge in eighty-five years. The figures will no doubt be fully discussed from the point of view of the clergy, lay rectors and tithe-payers. The collection of tithe which has become intolerably tiresome will be centralized in the office of Queen Anne's Bounty.
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