PRESS COMMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1414, 15 April 1912, Page 5

PRESS COMMENT.

DIVERSE VIEWS OF LEADING JOURNALS. UNIONIST DENUNCIATIONS. London, April 12. "The Times" states that a Federalist Bill is tho only excuse for tho retention of forty-two Irishmen ■ at Westminster, whose function would he to vote for larger subsidies for Ireland. A Senate nominated first by the Government in alliance with the Nationalists, and shortly by tho Irish" Executive, would be A ridiculous protection for the Unionist minority. 'The Times" also states that Mr. Asquith failed to explain that the Imperial Parliament was really mating an annual grant of two millions. The "Standard" (Conservative) declares that the financial proposals are a combination of muddle and fraud. The net result is that Great Britain gives tho Irish exchequer two millions a year, and Ireland gets an army and navy for less than nothing. Tho "Chronicle" (Liberal) says the complexity of the Bill is a merit. It shows that tho details have been well considered. The newspaper dislikes tho idea of a nominated Senate. Colonial experience, it says, has shown that it is incompatible with democracy, and an objectionable precedent for the reform of the House of Lords. The "Daily News" (Liberal) states that tho Bill is based on large, liberal lines, It regrets that Ireland is not given tho full control of the Customs and Excise. Tho "Pall Mall Gazette" (Unionist) says that the main effect of the Bill is that England pays without governing; Ireland governs without paying. Tho "Westminster Gazette" (Liberal) says the Bill firmly unites tho supr porters of the priuciplo of Homo Kule. It disapproves, however, of the nominated Senate. "Freeman's Journal" (Nationalist) says the Bill is the boldest and most generous measure yet introduced. The "Cork Free Press," the organ of the All for Ireland League, says that as a permanent system tho measure does not solve tho Irish problem. The "Irish Times" (Unionist) declares that the Bill will prove utterly unworkable, as it does not offer a middle course between separation and a return to the status of union. The "Irish Independent" (Nationalist) cannot regard the scheme as final, though it gives three-quarters of what was expected. The "Northern Whig" (Belfast Unionisi daily) states that tho Bill is more illogical and complicated than Mr. Gladstone's proposals, and is conceived in fraud. FINANCIAL PROPOSALS. EXPLANATION TO-DAY. London, April 12. Mr. Herbert Samuel, Postmaster-Gen eral, will explain the finoncinl provision of the Home Eulo Bill in the House oi Monday.