MON POWER BILL IRISH AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1918, Page 3

MON POWER BILL

IRISH AFFAIRS

[PUB I'll KBS ASSOCIATION.-—COPYRIGHT.]

Received Tins l)a» »♦ 9.50. a.m i LONDON, April 13.

The Commons adopted clause three of the Man Power Bill enabling a fortnight’s notice to cancel exemptions granted on personal, not occupational grounds. Government agreed not to apply the clause to conscientious objectors or men exempted on medical grounds.

•■sir A. Geddes in grave tones, warned the country that if something very, bad happened in the next lew days, and we were obliged to reconstruct large puts of army, no oho possessed of .smith and fitness should have his own personal position in civil life considered. About two hundred thousand men oel mgiiig to the higher grades would be affected bv grade three. These monare not yet wanted.

Ili L LAND AND CO.. SCKIPTIOX ii.fa'iii'i Ino j‘.i' it i.t.JA. ti-.ii LONDON April 13. A Dublin correspondent says the Convention's report is unheeded. The whoacountry is pre-oceupied with the quos. tion of conscription. The-Ulster Council has. issued a statement. It declares the report lacks the safeguards of previous Home Rule Bills, securing the supremacy of the Imperial Parliament. Owing to the growth of Sinn Feinism and the. failure of Nationalists to win the recent elections it is pretty obvious that an Irish general election would place the balance of power in the hands of the party preparing, with assist, ance and promise of arms, to strike a blow at the heart of the Empire, reducing Ireland to the condition of Bussin.

IRELAND RECRUITING

(R'ccveit Tl’i” Dav pi- 9.30. a.m.) LONDON. April 14.

Reports from Ireland show much .-activity in recruiting departments. Many in Dublin have joined up including many Englishmen. Should all ■t-ho'-e evaders of military service join the army would receive thirty tbou- | sand recruits. j PRESS COMMENT. ' (Received This Day at 9.50. a.m.) , LONDON April 14. Commenting on the Irish situation the “Daily News” and “Daily Chronicle” deplore the. Government’s attii tude on conscription.' The “Morning Post’’ says the nation is asked to betray : Ulster, to• placate the Sinn Fein. The “Telegraph” and “Times” emphasise the responsibility of the Gevernmont. to find a settlement in fulfilment of the , Premier’s pledge.

Lord Plunkett conversing -with pressmen, said the most be bad hoped for was a substantial agreement, -not unani!nitty. The Convention had abolished the Irish question outside of Ulster, and the later situation is so changed that it would be much easier to negotiate with Ulster. The Convention had not dissolved, only adjourned sine die.

i In portion of Ireland there would be no settlement. It would be better to wait than start Home Rule. With portion of the strength of Ulster, the opno sition was mainly on religious grounds.