IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 27

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

CATTLE-DRIVING IN IRELAND

LONDON, February 4. Earl Dudley, speaking in the House of Lords, said he believed that the Irish cattle-driving originated not through the diivers' covetousness but owing to their patriotic devotion to national demands. While warmly advocating governingIreland according to Irish ideas, he said he did not consider that such a course necessarily involved Home Rule. He regarded the application of the Crimes Act as inconsistent with the whole spirit of Unionism.

Lord Ashbourne said that when the last Government left office Ireland was in a state of perfect order, and at the end of six months demoralisation, disorder, and intimidation were rampant. Cattle-driving prevailed in 10 counties, and the system, which could have been stopped in a month, had reached such gigantic proportions that the King's writ did not run.

Lord Loi'eburn insisted that the reports of the disorder were much exaggerated. He said that cattle-driving had much diminashed. The Government declined to apply the Crimes Act because it would create exasperation and bittern ess, which would be productive of more evil than good. The Address-in-Reply was carried.

Mr Birrell, in reply to Mi- Stanley Hill (C.), said there had been 334 cases of cattle-driving since June. Animals had been injured in 27 cases, but none of the owners had been personally injured.

Mr W. H. Long moved his amendment to the Address-in-Reply. He said that though cattle-driving had been checked it was not the result of a vigorous administration, but of some compromise between the Government and the Nationalists. He dwelt on the increase in shooting and agrarian outrages, and emphasised the terrible'' nature of the boycotting, yet the Government sat with folded hands, when it was possessed cf an effective instrument in the Crimes Act.

Mr Birrell, in the course of a vigorous defence, affirmed that the permanent peace and prosperity of Ireland depended on a settlement of the land question and the speedy acquisition of untenanted lamd for distribution in economic holdings. Cattledriving did not terrify him, but the price of land and stock, the possibility of bad seasons, and the fear of disappointing the land - hungry people did. The Executive had worked the ordinary law with the utmost vigour. The fact that' juries sympathised with cattle-drivers did not justify dispensing with juries and resorting to coercion. He indignantly denied the charge of entering into a corrupt bargain with the bishops in regard to the proposed University Education Bill. He would 'be a monster if he stocd aside and allowed crime to continue in order to bolster v Home Rule. He did not believe the Crimes Act would stop outrages, and be flatly refused to put the statute in force. The debate was adjourned. February 5. Mr Long's amendment to the Address-in-Reply was defeated by 414 to 115. Sir E. Carson (0.) said that if the Government considered serious offences in Ireland were inevitable because there was not land enough for all, that was tantamount to preaching Socialism pure and simple. Mr R. R-. Cherry, K.C., Attorneygeneral for Ireland, insisted that the amount of crime in Ireland in 1907 was less by one-half than for the average five preceding years. By trusting to the ordinary law the Government hoped to enlist the sympathies of the people on the =ide of law, and so secure tranquillity. MR BIRRELL'S ADMINISTRATION. LONDON, February 5. The Daily News says that Mr Birrell's administration in Ireland has been an almost sensational success. SIR ANTONY MACDONNELL. LONDON, February 6. Mr Birrell denies that Sir Antony MacDonnell has resigned his office as Undersecretary for Ireland. MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIOS. LONDON, February 5. At the instance of the Labour party, Mr Barnes has-moved that the status of Ministerial portfolios be not altered until it. is ascertained how far the duties now assigned to the Home. Board of Trade, and Local Government Departments in relation to labour can be grouped under the control of a Minister of Luboui. EDUCATION QUES'IION. LONDON, February 6. Lord Robert Cecil's amendment criticicising the administration of the Education Department was defeated by 272 votes to 79. A minority of the Committee of Nonconformity members of the Ewisn of

Commons has - accepted Mr M'Kenna's (President of the Board of Education) project to allow contracting out under his coming bill ; but the majority threaten trouble if such a clause is inseited.