Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, MARCH 5th, 1920. THE HOME RULE BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, MARCH sth, 1920. THE HOME RULE BILL.

Thk British Government has produce! its Home Rule Bill, and it goes with out saying from what has been madi public before, that the measure wil not be acceptable to the parties. Thi; complex question has been the bam of British polities for long years, am the perverse spirit now rampant, indi cates that the elucidation of the com plexities will not be a matter of ease The Government has tried again anc again to solve the problem, but with, out success. Also there was the Irisl Convention about three years ago, com, posed of all parties interested, and tbal multitude of councillors failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion. The Irish question is overshadowing frorr time to time, and at present with the rebellious unrest in Ireland, the situation is grave as affecting British politics if not British prestige. In these circumstances a settlement would be welcomed. But the parties are so di-

vergent and so extreme in their demands or their wishes, that no compromise has yet been advanced acceptable to all; nor is it likely to bo so far as can be gleaned of the Irish question. It is in these very difficult circum. stances that the Home Rule Bill i s brought down. The measure is a compromise dividing the antagonistic parts into separate parliaments. But the southern part wants complete Home Rule under one Parliament, just as the northern part will not submit to central authority, and would prefer to retain loyal attachment to the United Kingdom. Both sides are extreme and determined, and will not budge from their convictions, which in many cases, are sealed with a solemn pledge and covenant to stand by the cause espoused, at all costs. It is a very difficult and trying set of circumstances, and while there is such a sharp division of local opinion in Ireland, it appears to be manifestly unfair to put all the blame on the British Parliament for the de_ lay in bringing in Home Rule. In prewar day’s a measure was passed by the House of Commons three sessions in succession, but rejected by the Lords. Automatically that measure became legally enacted, but Ulster would have none of it, and finally’ came the pledge from Mr Asquith that under no circumstances would Ulster he coerced into a

comprehensive instalment towards ; general scheme, but. with sub-division! to save conflict between the rival factions. In the meantime Ireland is in a prospering condition. Despite war. times, and the present-day riots and disorders, Ireland and the Irish people have had their complaints redressed b\ Great Britain, and many of the grievances which were more or loss pronounced have for long disappeared. During the war period Ireland received favored nation treatment, while since reforms were made in Ireland great financial help has been rendered from the British Exchequer, and the assistance with land settlement in regard to industries has placed the country in a very flourishing condition. Ireland can afford to trust. Britain and if the good people would accept the Home Buie Bill in the spirit in which it is tendered, national co-operation would make the country more prosperous than over.