PESSIMISM AND OPTIMISM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8341, 30 January 1913, Page 7

PESSIMISM AND OPTIMISM

GLOOMY" PICTURE PAINTED BY" LORD ST. ALDWY'N. (Received January 30, 0.25 a.m.) LONDON, January 29. Lord St. Aldwyn said that the Bill did not place the Irish Government in a position of self-reliance, Tho expenditure was certain to rise, while the revenue would diminish. No one in Ireland approved of the financial provisions. it was utterly impossible to fulfil tie roseate Nationalist expectations which the advent of Home Buie aroused. It would he impossible to raise the extra taxation, because the fact that Ireland was already overtaxed had been dinned into every irishman’s ears. Consequently, fresh discontent would arise. Ireland would lose the advantage of Imperial credit, and would have to pay a higher rate for her loans than hitherto. The real reason for the retention of forty-two members at Westminster is that they can. act in concert in raiding the British Treasury. Their support was open at prices corresponding with the British Government’s needs. There was a temptation for the Irish Government not to effect economies lest they should bring nearer a financial revision when Ireland would bo asked to contribute to Imperial expenditure. The Bill was framed not to work but to pass. Lord Haldane was as sanguine of the beneficial results of tho Bill os Lord St. Aldwyn was pessimistic and gloomy. He said that Lord Grey’s Canadian analogy could not be applied to Ireland. The theory of the Bill was true devolution, as distinct from true federation. It was necessary to retain representation in Westminster to give reality to the claim of an Imperial Parliament.

Ontario is administered try a Lieuten-ant-Governor and responsible Ministry. There is only one Chamber, the Legislative Assembly, which has 106 members elected hr manhood suffrage, for four years. Quebec is also administered by a Lie n tenant- Go vern o r and responsible Ministry. The Legislative Council has 24 members appointed for life by the Lieu-tenant-Governor. The Legislative Assembly has 74 members.