HOME RULE BILL

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1623, 14 December 1912, Page 5

HOME RULE BILL

COffIIQITTEB STAGE OVER. IRELAND'S NATIONAL FLAO. NOT THE UNION JACK. By Tclcgraph-'reGS ABSooia-tion— Copyright London, December 12. Tho House of Commons has. completed the consideration in Committee of tho whole forty-sight olausos of the Home Rule Bill. The last six clauses wero guillotined. . Tho House'will discuss new clauses and schedules to-day. . . An amendment, proposed by the Post-master-General, Mr. Samuel, was carried, transferring the Irish Post Office to Great Britain in times of national emergency. The Opposition, sharply criticised tho Attorney-General's alteration of the time of meeting of the Irish.Parliament. Mr. Bonar Law, Leader of the Opposition, said tho Government was contemplating that a General Election would be held after tho Bill was passed and before ( it came into operation; This was a. wicked proceeding, and would bo certain to re6ult .in disorders. Tho Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, denied that the Government had any ulterior object. '' -. (Reo. December 14, 0.15 a.m.) London, December 13. The House of Commons, by 2GG votes to IGG, rejected -Mr. Hattersley's clause making the Union Jack the Irish, flag. Mr. M'Yeagh, Nationalist member for South Down, in a,flippant speech, asked why Ireland was to bo forbidden to do what every colony and dominion was allowed to do. . ' . Mr. Birrell, Chief Secretary for Ireland, said a compulsory flag would not encourage loyalty. Compulsory loyalty was as impossible as compulsory religion or Greek. .. Mr. Balfour denounced Mr. MTeagh's ridiculing of the Union Jack, and recalled the United States' insistence on the symbolism of.tho national flag. Mr. Redmond, Leader .of the Nationalist party;' said the Union ' Jack would fly at Dublin as a symbol of \Emp>.re, and alongside it would bs the green flag as a eign of that local nationality of which every Irishman was proud. .The Bill has passed through' its Committee stage. The Liberals enthusiastically cheered the Premier and Ministers as the final clause was piit through.