HOME RULE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1068, 6 March 1911, Page 5

HOME RULE.

SPEECH BY MR. BIRRELL. THE NEW BILL. REPRESENTATION AT WESTMINSTER. THE FINANCIAL ASPECT. Uy Teloirraph-Pross Assoeiation-Copyricht. (Rec. March 5, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 4. Mr. flirrell, Chief Secretary for Ireland, iu an address to the Oxford Union Society, stated that whether or not, after Home Utile had been granted, the Irish would be representative at Westminster was a conundrum easily answered if Home Rulo for Ireland was frankly regarded as a precursor and Home Kule for Scotland, Wales, and England. It was the crux of tho Home Kule problem that they should make financial proposals enabling tho Irish to support the new system of government with some measure of suscess. The Government was engaged in an actuarial inquiry with a view to placing the financial matters on a rational basis. He thought it quite practicable to make financial proposals whieh would not bo open to tho charge of being impossible or absurd. The Home Rule Bill would possibly resemble the Bill of 1893, subject to such alterations and modifications as tho interval suggested as wise.

PREVIOUS BILLS. THE PROPOSALS OF 18SG AND 1893. The Homo Rule Bill of 188G was introduced into the House of Commons, whero it was defeated on the second reading by a majority of 30 (341-311) on June 7,1886. It established an Irish Legislature, to which was given a general power to make laws; but certain matters were excepted, notably succession to tho Crown; peace and war; army, navy, and militia; foreign and colonial policy; treason; trade; post and telegraph; lighthouses; coinage. The Irish Legislature was also forbidden to make any laws establishing a State religion, or impose Customs and Excise. To the Sovereign wero given the same prerogatives' as in Great Britain. The Executive Government was vested in the Sovereign, represented by the Viceroy. The proposed Parliament, which was to bo quinquennial, was to consist of two Orders, to doliberato and vote together, unless a majority of either Order should demand a separato vote. The First Order waa to consist of 103 members, 75 elective and 28 pcerago members, the electivo members to possess a property qualification of not less than .£2OO a year, to bo elected on a .£25 franchise and to hold office for ten years. The Peerage to be elected by Irish Peers and to hold office for life or thirty years, whichever period was shorter. The Second Order to of 20G members, two to be returned by each of the 103 Irish constituencies. The finance clauses empowered the Irish. Parliament to lew taxes and established an Irish Consolidated Fund. They also privided for a yearly payment by Ireland to (he Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of ,£1,466,000 towards the National Debt; .C 1.666,000 towards the Army and Navy; ,£IIO.OOO for Imperial civil expenditure; ,£1,000,000 for constabulary and police; total, .£4,212,000. The collection and application by the Imperial Tio.isury of Customs and Excise duties paid in Ireland was provided. The salaries and pensions nf judges, etc., was to be. charged to the Irish Consolidated Fund. Power was given to the Irish Legislature to appropriate out of Irish revenues additional sums to be paid into {he Consolidated Fund of the 'United Kingdom in 'case of war. The initiative in mailers of taxation was to be left with tho Crown. The judges of the Exchequer Division wero to remain under Imperial control. The Dublin police were left under tho control of the Lord Lieutenant for two jvars, the Royal Irish Constabulary under the same control as long as it existed. To tho Irish Legislature was given power to create other police forces under local authorities. A Bill vetoed by the First Order could not be, again introduced until after three years or after a dissolution, whichever period was the longer. All Irish Peers and M.P.'s were excluded from the Imperial Parliament. The Judicial Committee nf the English. Privy-Council were to decide on all Constitutional questions arising on the Act. The Vioerny.-ilty was to be continued and the Viceroy'paid out of the Consolidated Fund of tho United Kingdom. Future judges were to be removable only on address from both Orders. Present judges and civil servants wero to have their rights and salaries protected. Existing pensions were tj continue.

The most notable difference between this Eil! and tho Bill of ISSG was the retention l of tho Trish. members, it bein? provided that RO Trish members' should sit and vato in the Imperial Parliament, but should not speak or rote on purely British questions. The new Irish Lcrislatm-c was to consist of an Assembly of 103 members and a Council of«, the latter elected on a -C2O franchise. The Customs receipts collected in Ireland were to be taken as Ireland's contribution to Imneri.il expenditure. The retention of Irish members was abandoned, and tho financial scheme was considerably alfhrousrh the Commons. The second" reading of the Bill passed the House of Commons by a majority of 43, but (he H""s e of Lords rejectel it by a majority of 378.