HOME RULE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2154, 1 April 1908, Page 3

HOME RULE.

A SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

AN EXCITING DEBATE

(Received March 31, 10, c>2 p.m.) *■ LONDON, (March 3.1. Mr. W.'H; H. Redmond moved a resolution that-The system of Government in Ireland was inellieiont, extravagant, and costly, and was productive of universal discontent ' ; -v. and unrest. The only solution .was to give an Irish legislative oxecutivo control .over all purely Irish affairs. Ho claimed the resolution -was uectxsaarv as' it would free Liberals at tlio next general election from the unfortunate pledges which debarred tno party.of convinced Home Eulers troui giving effect to their convictions. Ireland was not content with a halt-’ wav house. He eloquently pleaded the right of the Irish to develop tho resources of their country, and the power to heal wounds inflicted through class hatred and religious ' dissension. Lord Percy moved an amendment, declaring that if the Imperial Parliament abandoned ilp undivided responsibility it might injure tlio prosperity of Ireland and the Imperial security of Britain. Therefore • the House - should bo unalterably opposed to the creation of an' Irish Parliament with a resDonsiblo executive. Ho declared that Homo Rule was a losing cause, not merely'because its advocates were becoming faint-hearted, but becauso the new ideal of a closer union with all parts of the Empire was firing tlio enthusiasm of British people. There was ho doubt Which would win, now that the success of our commerce depended. on concentration and union. Mr. Birrell said that Ireland could, not wait indefinitely for urgent reforms. Unless there,was to bo something like hell in Ireland, there would be, not murder and crime, but profound discontont, misery, and dislocation of society. Something must bo done. Ho believed affairs in Ireland required Parliament’s exclusive at-

tention. Mr. S. H. Butcher, on behalf of tho ' Protestant minority, declared Homo Rule would bo not. simply a political experiment, but a desperato gamble with Imperial interests. Mr. G. Clarlco caused a scene by applying the epithets of “ignorant, lazy peasantry” to tho west of Ireland. i Mr. John O’Connor challenged Mr. Clark to repeat the-words outside, and called him a coward and a cad. (The Deputy-Speaker named Mr. O’Connor when ho reliised to withdraw, and Mr. O’Connor, amid the cheers of tho Irish party, Ic&t tho House. ... Mr. Balfour denied the analogy be-

tween Ireland and tlio self-governing colonies, and reminded the House tho political process between i countries of modern times was integration, not disintegration. Mr Asquith affirmed that ho strongly favored self-government in regard to purely local affairs, but was unable to vote for the motion because it contained no explicit, recognition of the continued paramount supremacy of tho Imperial Parliament, and besides the party could not proceed with Homo Rule during the lifetime ; ; of the present Parliament. He intended to vote against the amendment becauso of -its barren .negation.* Mr. Healy violently attacked Mr. Asquith.. , . , Tho amendment was rejected by 334 to 142. * . . The resolution was carried by 3Lo to 157, after Mr. Simon’s addition that the Home Rule Parliament- must bo subpect to the supreme authority of the Imperial Parliament, had been added. *