HOME RULE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1370, 22 February 1912, Page 5

HOME RULE.

CENSURE MOTION DEBATE

UNIONIST CHALLENQE TO CABINET. REPLY BY MR. ASQUITH. By Telegraph-Press Areociation-Copyrlelit """ (Rec. February 21, 9.15 p.m.) London, VcbmaTy 21. Mr. Austen Chamberlain, speakmg in the House of Commons in support of tho Opposition amendment to the Addres3-in-Keply censuring tho Government for proceeding with great constitutional changes before carrying out its pledges to reform the House of Lords, declared that the Government would be unable to reform the House of Lords until the Home Rule Bill was passed. Ho reminded the Liberals that when they had a majority in ISKKi independent of the Irish party, the Cabmet bound themselves not to present a Home Rule Bill. Mr. Asquith replied that the only definite statement regarding the time of the reform was that tho Government would carry it out during the present Parliament. Kvcrybody knew that the first use of the Parliament Act would be to carry Home Rule. The proper time to reconstituto the House of Lords was after Ireland was given freedom to deal with her own affairs on lines which in the main would be adaptable to other parts of the kingdom. It was expedient to delay the reform of the Lords until they knew the form tho constitutional development would take. They would then be better able to deal with tho problem of a Second Chamber. He appealed to the Houso to develop a system of self-government for Ireland on broad democratic lines. Mr. Bonar lan-, Leader of the Opposition, declared that tho granting of Home Kule was fraught with danger. Two such great democratic powers could not work side by side without friction. The country's interests might in war time be fatally endangered. He intended to maintain in Parliament his Albert Hall charges and to make an additional one that public meetings in connection with tho Insurance Bill had been paid for by public money. The Liberals, during the last quarter of a century, had never taken up Homo Rule, except when they were dependent upon tho Irish vote. Mr. TJre, Lord Advocate for Scotland, said tho question raised was whether the Second Chamber should have the power to force,an appeal to tho country. The Government had declared that the House of Commons must bo supreme. They would, in due time, pass a measure establishing a Second Chamber on an elective basis. The amendment was negatived, the voting being: Against tho motion 324 For tho motion 231 Majority against v 93 Sixty Nationalists and also the Labour members voted with the Government. Two Liberals abstained from voting, and there were thirty-seven pairs.