THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK IN BRITAIN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1781, 20 June 1913, Page 6

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK IN BRITAIN.

Sir,—la your leader on the above this morning you state that in reference to tho proposed time limit to discuss the Home Rule Bill that, "notwithstanding the fact that it was discussed and passed by the House of Commons," etc. Well, technically, you may bo right, though I think it will be seen that from the figures I shall quote that only 6ome of the Bill was discussed in tho last session of Parliament. Here aro some facts about the Home Rule Bill: — No. of lines in the Bill 1,656 No. of lines discussed 212 No. of lines undiscussed 1,444 No. of different amendments proposed 1>149 No. of different amendments discussed 95 No. of amendments rejected without discussion 1,051 No. of clauses in the Bill 48 No. of schedules in the Bill i No. of clauses fully discussed 2 No. of clauses partly discussed 23 No. of clauses passed without any discussion 21 No. of schedules discussed 0 No. of schedules passed without any discussion 1 No. of lines in the Bill at report stage, after Committee discussion, with Government amend.l 1 OOQ

ments 1.928 No. of lines discussed in tho report stage 122 No. of lines passed without discussion I.BOG Tho following are a few examples of the long list of important questions arising in connection with the Home Rule Bill which were "settled" without any discussion in the House of Commons. Not one word of debate wag permitted concerning 1. Ttio number of Irish membors who are to be kept in the British Parliament to control British affairs after Ireland lias obtained a Parliament of her own. 2. The method of electing those Irish members. 3. The powers of tho Irish Parliament to put new taxes on tho Irish people, including the loyal minority, who will havo to pay most of the taxes, but will havo no chauce to control them. 4. Tho manner of choosing at least 40 more Irish mombors to como to tho British Parliament beforo Ireland pays any

eharo of tho cost of the .British Navy, Army, ctc. 5. Tho power of the British Parliament to mako laws for Ireland on tho sam» subjects, and at tho same timo as tho Irish Parliament. G. Tho conditions on which the Lord Lieutenant is to have power to veto laws passed by the Irish Parliament. 7. Tho "auditing" of the expenditure of the Irish Parliament. Britain is to pay a substantial annual tribute to tho Irish National Government, but the House of Commons were not allowed to discuss proposals for seeing that the money is honestly expended. Tho abovo facts are taken from tho Belfast "Weekly News," and I think they prove that Mr. Bonar Law was not far from the mark when lie declared tliat tho Government's intentions on this question wore "contemptuous."—l am, ctc., THOS. M. MILLIOAN. June 0, 1913.