Measure Passed by Commons:
Others to be Consulted London, Feb. 17.
After an interesting debate the House of Comnions today passed the second reading of a Bill pro~ viding for the stabilization of Easter. The Bill fixes on the first Sunday after Saturday in April, Moving the second reading, Captain R, C. Bourne (Conservative) said that when the question was referred to the Council of the League of Nations there was almost unanimity of opinion that the date chosen should be towards the fend of the first part of April, after the second Saturday and not later than the third. The date in view was an attempt to compromise between these views. Tt was provided that the Bill, if it were passed, should not come into operation until date to be fixed by the Government because this country could not stabilize Easter with total disregard for the rest of the world, Sir Henry Slesser (Labour) moved rejection of the Bill, declaring that ne adequate reason had been shown for altering the system of fixing a religious festival which had existed for 1,600 years. He pointed out that the Roman Church could not come to a decision on the subject, because no change could be made by the Ecumenical Council Which would not be held until next year. The Anglican and Greek Churches were not prepared to act except in agreement with other churches. If the Bill were to be-ome law without an apparent agreement with the churches there would be two Easters, and sub sequent confusion, Mr, F, B, Merriman (Conserv: tive) moved an amendment whereby: an Enster immediately following: the full moon afforded a better chance of good weather and he cited statistics of rainfall to illus. trate his point, Sir William Joynaon-Hicks, the Home Secretary, said the Government desired to' leave this matter: entirely to the decision of the! House. If the Houre passed the Bill the Government would regard it as an intimation of their wish. for the Government to proceed with various inquiries fortified with the. view of the House, The Government could than definitely go to the other countries of Europe and to other occlesistieal authorities and say that the House of Commons thad adopted it. He would then ask the Foreign Secretary to summon conference of the nations interested, Sir Henry Slesser withdrew his rejection amendment and the Bill wne read for the second time with-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.