HOME RULE BILL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1451, 28 May 1912, Page 5

HOME RULE BILL.

+ SOME IRISH VIEWS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Rec. May 27, 9.20 p.m.) London, May 27. Addressing tho All-for-Iroknd League at Cork, Mr. William O'Brien, M.1 , ., Leader of tho Independent Nationalist party, said that the Home Rule Hill offered a reasonable basis for conciliation. Ho and. his friends were ready to Imry the hatchet, join the liedtuondites, and force the Government'to make the measure acceptable to Ireland. The Bill did not represent colonial Home Rule, but was merely a copy of the Manitoban constitution. Nobody but a place-hunter would go into raptures over the Bill, but no sane. Nationalist would think of rejecting it. Mr. Tim Healy (Independent Nationalist), in commenting on Mr. Redmond's announcement that lie would not sit in the Irish Parliament, said Mr. Redmond, htving secured freedom would fold tho Union Jack to his bosom and sleep in peace. He was not going to nurse tha Bill after it had been passed, but would leave them to hold the baby.

Lord Dunraven, in a letter to the league, said he approved of tho Home Rule Bill, but feared they wcro getting stones for bread. The measure was anti-fc-deral and unadaptable to Britain. HOME RULE BILL AT A GLANCE. MEASURE ANALYSED. The following are the main points from the Homo Rule Bill:— The supreme power and authority of tho Imperial Parliament shall remain unaffected and uiidiminished over all persons, matters, and things throughout His Majesty's Dominions. After an appointed day there shall be in Ireland an Irish Parliament consisting of H.M. the Kins and two Houses, namely, a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Iri'h Parliament shall have general power to make laws for the government of Ireland. Matters excluded from the sphere of the Irish Parliament:—

'The Crown:— The Array mid wavy. Question of peace and war. Imperial affairs. Land Purchase Act. 01(1 Age. Pension.'. National Insurance. Irish Constabulary (to be transferred at the end of six years). Post Office Savings Bank. Collection of Taxes other than Duties and Postages. 4ny alteration in the- Home Kulo Act itself. Safeguards for Ulster consist of the folIrish Parliament shall not endow or establish any religion, or prohibit the free exercise of any religion, or give preference or privilege- to any religion. The Imperial Parliament will retain power to veto any Irish pro-

posal. Irish Parliament to be constituted as follows:— , . , , i Senate of 40 members, nominated by Imperial Executive, and to hold office for eight years. House of Representatives of 104 members, elected by existing Irish constituencies of over 27,0(10 elector' Ulster would have 5!) members, Leinstcr 41. Minister 37 V and Connaught 25. Two members for the Universities. In the case of disagreement, the two ■ ' Houses would sit together. ■.. Lo'rtt'Lieutenant will be the head of ■ tho

Executive. The financial relations may bo thus summarised :— ' • Deficit of .£2,000,000 to be made -up from Imperial Exchequer. Reserved Services mil cost about .£5,000,000. Irish revenue retained by Imperial Government, ,£3,000,000. Imperial Government to contribute .£500,000 a year for expenses of Government, to be reduced by .£30,000 a year to ,£200.000. A Joint Exchequer Board to be established. Irish taxes to be collected by machinery of Imperial Parliament. Custon'is.may be increased by Irish Parliament to an extent not ex-

ceedinft ton per cent., but to be collected by Imperial authorities. Irish representation at Westminster to consist of 42 members, excluding any University representatives, elected from regrouped constituencies. No general redistribution of seats.