THE GROWTH OF THE FEDERAL IDEA.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14972, 20 May 1914, Page 9

THE GROWTH OF THE FEDERAL IDEA.

Writing on April 9th, tho London correspondent of tho Syduey "Daily Telegraph' say.s:—The development of the fodoral klea as y. solution 01 tho Irish problem has hoeu astonishingly sudden. "Wh-Mi a few months ago Mr Churchill gave it. ]:is .strong approval in a spofvli a , . Dundee ho was coudemn<v) for a prime piece of hypocrisy. Tho Unionists declared that his prediction that within a fen- years we should have Homo Rule for' Scotland and Wales, and oven for Lancashire and Yorkshire, was regarded as fantastic. He \n.s, charged' with attcmnting to confuse iho Irish issue. But Mr Churchill has many gift" of statesmanship, including that of foresight. Wh.it was rejected is'fantastic a few months ago is now accepted by thinkers of all parties. Homo Rule all round is deemed inevitable. While, however, it is easy to forecast a number of provincial parliaments, party leaders cannot see how this is to give any immediate lelipf to the tension in Ulster. ] Nobody on the Liberal side will give n moment's consideration to the permanent partition of Ireland. The sudden growth of the federal idea is extremely interesting. It is agreed that the Government of the whole kingdom from Westminster is steadily and inevitably breaking down. Not only is it impossible for tho House of Commons to give proper attention to tho local affairs of the prorincos, but, overburdened as it, now is, the central Parliament is compelled to neglect to an ominous degree- matters of the greatest Imperial concern. Tho manner in ■which budgets covering the expenditure of . 200 millions sterling arc galloped throuch the House each year is regarded with, the grave.st- anxiety. There is not nearly enough detailed criticism of the groat revenue and spending departments. . whilo legislation of world-wide significance is cither postponed indefinitely or rushed through in an undigested form. It is felt that the House of Commons is compelled to g : ve altogether too much power to the Cabinet and to individual Ministers. There is no time for thouehtful discussion ami amendment. On subjects of the first importance the Cabinet comes to - a decision, and the subsequent nrocoediugs in the House are nrnetioally a farce. And, unfortunately, the Cabinet itself is so hopelessly over'oaded that its decisions cannot bo {renerally acceptable. Government of the Empire under nresent conditions is in reality .-rbitrnrv government by an overworked Cabinet, while at the <=ame time hundreds of .matters of vita) i=ip;nificance to the provinces are entirely overlooked.