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Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 April 1912, Page 2

. IRISH HOME RULE. The introduction of the new Homo Eule Bill is remarkable for tire unanimity oi: the Irishmen o: the- House and the vastness ol the preliminary display. If there were anything in the pro!imiuary part which, took place the day before at Belfast, the fate of Home Rule in Ireland might be re,*

garded as having been prophetically told in tLe story of the Kilkenny cats. But things, in Ireland are not all what they seem, especially the uplifting of hands and the bending of knees by public meeting swearing never, never, never, to accept Home Rule.' Why Ulster returns 16 Home Rulers to Parliament against 17 sent by the Unions ist. It is a big discount of the True Blue sentiment of the seventeen that there are sixteen waiting for them on the other side of the hedge. Ulster will accept all right after the inevitable wry face. Especilly as there are safeguards which make the problem easj of solution, Ireland wiH'accept unanicmsly of course because O'Brine and Redmond have agreed, the former reserving himself for details. The Oppositionist orators said the right thing from their point of view, 'futile" "fantastic". But the Irish people will not mind that, and the Bill will be none the worse,^ The United Kingdom of Great Britain is prepared to accept because it is aware that between parish pnmps and registered plumbers fov the metropolitan^ area, and the immorality of plays acted in London, the House of Commons wastes nearly all its time, and becanse it kno^is that the various dependencies are home rulers and all the more lojal accordingly. Sensible men also agree with. Mr Asquith that if Boer and Briton laid down together the day after a fight and became good citizens of the Empire, one half of the Ulstermen are not likely to be unfaiil? used by their countrymen. The deciding factor is the congestion of paiiia* mentary business, which can only be relieved by Home Rule, not in Ireland only where it is about to begin, but in England, Scotland, and Wales where it is about to be offered. In a few weeks men will be wondering how it ever was possible for sensible people to be alarmed at the prospect of managing their own affairs.