The struggle in England over the tithes which has been considerably exercising those involved from year to year has again been renewed as the demands for payment of this year's tithe come in. A new phase has been emphasized by a. recent decision of the Court of Appeal the effect that the cost of repairing the chancel of the parish church of Wickbambrook, Sulfolk, amounting to £120 should be pald'by a 13-year old girl who draws less than one-third of that sum from a tithe share in the parish. "When the case was tried at Bury St. Edmunds, a decision was rendered in favour of the girl, Dut this was set aside on appeal. A further appeal will be taken tothe House of Lords, permission having already been given, for the decision as it stands may have a far-reaching effect not only on tithe-owners but also on tithe-payers. Obviously will force owners to be more insistent that tithe-payers shall" meet their obligations, for in another case Mr. John Henry Stevens, a wealthy lan owner was committed to Bedford Jail for contempt. of the Ecclesiastical Court for refusing to repair the chancel of the church at Hauxton near Cambridge. After being imprisoned for elht days while feverish endeavours were being made to come plete the repairs the unfortunate defendant was released upon the payment of £50 and taxed costs, Naturally a tithe-owner in such a position will do his utmost to see that all incomings are collected if liabi-Iities such as these are to be met, and the increase -of burdens upon farmers will tend to further exacerbation of feelings which are already. running high over the question.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.