THE HOME RULE BILL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7069, 15 February 1893, Page 3

THE HOME RULE BILL.

(Pbk Electric Telegraph—Copyktg st. t (Per Press Association.) . (Received 11.25 a.ra., Feb. 15th ) London, Feb. 14. The Irish members generally approve of the florae Rule Bill, while objecting to some of the details, especially the j finance section. f The Radicals object to the retention of; Irish members in the Imperial Parliament. It is believed that Mr Gladstone is prepared to consider that point. The Unionists consider the proposals are confused and impracticable, and denounce the futility of the veto. There is a lack of enthusiasm over the measure among the Liberals. The Opposition will not call for a division on the motion to introduce the Bill. Many members of the Radical Party distrust Mr Gladstone’s luke-warruneas, and are not in favour of the retention of Irish members. The Unionists consider that the steps to be taken to maintain Imperial supremacy are utterly inadequate, and that a double veto is delusive. The Times says that the Bill is profoundly disappointing, and that there are no real safeguards for minorities. The veto it regards as illusory, and considers that the proposals for retaining Irish members, and leaving the land to mercenaries and to the command of the highest bidder, highly dangerous. (Received 11.30 a.m., Feb. 15th.) The Daily Chronicle says the retention of the Irish members at Westminster is a great and acceptable feature, and should Mr Gladstone waver on this point the Bill will be killed. The logical outcome of the Bill will, it considers, be Home Rule demanded for Wales and Scotland. The Daily News says the measure is more worthy of acceptance by Irishmen, and more likely tocommand the sympathy and adhesion of the British people, than the bill brought down in 1886. The Daily Telegraph says the bill is not statemanship, or anything approaching that name. The total omission of the land question it regards as indicative of the spirit in which the Bill was conceived. The Standard believes that the Bill is impracticable and impossible, and if passed would never work satisfactorily. The provincial Unionist Press regards the Bill as worse than that of 1886. They State that it is the old bill thinly disguised, with redeeming features eliminated for too timid Liberals, and does not go far enough for Irishmen,

The Home Rule Press refer to the proposals with guarded approval. The Nationalist feeling in Dublin resents the safeguards as too stringent. The Belfast Press attacks the Bill. Freeman's Journal echoes Mr Sexton’s views.