MOST CRITICAL PHASE OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3057, 19 April 1917, Page 5

MOST CRITICAL PHASE OF THE WAR

STATEMENT BY M. BONAR LAW

, EXTENDING THE LIFE -OF

PARLIAMENT N

London, April 17. I 111 the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law, moving tbe second reading of the I Bill extending tlie life of Parliament, said: "We are at- the most- critical phase ol; the war. Our success lias exceeded our expectation, and has proved that. the quality of tlie men, their equipment, and training, are more than a match for their opponents. I t would be highly, disadvantageous to the country to plunge. into the turmoil of an election, and divert the energy of the .nation from its'supreme object'" Mr. Asquith. said that tlie recent byelections showed that only :50 to 65 per cent, of the electors on the register were, available. An election wider such ■conditions would, be a faree, and would result in a sham Parliament, that would possess 110 authority. Sir, J. Dillon, on behalf of the Irish Nationalists,' moved for the rejection of the. Bill. Mr.. Bonar Law, in replying, said lie. hoped to announce the Government's intentions regarding Home Rule iiexfc week. . , • Tbe Bill, was read a second time bv 286 votes to 52.—Aus.-N-.Z-: Cable Assn.' 1 IRISH NATIONALIST OPPOSITION V London, April 17. The Irish Nationalist Party,,: before the sitting of the Mouse, decided; tooppose tlie second reading of tlie Rill to extend the life of Parliament,—Aiis.JJ.Z. Cable. Assn.