The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1918 SCOTTISH HOME RULE.

Taihape Daily Times, 10 May 1918, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1918 SCOTTISH HOME RULE.

(With which is Incorporated The £*i-

hape Post ami Vraluwitluo News).

Because Scotchmen are less noisy and clamourous than other sections of the British Empire seeking Home Rule, it is believed that Scotland is perfectly satisfied with being tackea on to England and, therefore, quite contented to continue as an afterthought in most legislation enacted in the British Parliament. A cable rereceived yesterday is only one in a chain of reminders that Scotland needs home rule just as much as Ireland, or any of the self-governing dominions. The Scottish Nationalist Committee is asking the British Government to frame the Irish Bill with a view to the immediate extension of a similar measure to Scotland, and a complete federal system for the United Kingdom. One would thin., as Scotland was only a part of that Island which is comprised of the three nationalities —English, Scotch, and Welsh —all laws, and regulations thereunder, could be so framed as to be as suitable to one as the other. That such a view is erroneous is proved by the fact that the Scottish Nationalist Committee has been in existence for very many years past, the secretaries of which were both KTembers of the British Parliament. Over ten years ago the Committee were advocating home rule for Scotland; they urged then as they urge now, that any settlement of the constitutional question would offer an opportunity for organising parliamentary business on a basis of devolution. They contend that Scotland’s claim is no less urgent than that of Ireland. Scotland is too frequently legislated for as an afterthought. Clauses dealing with Scottish affairs are unexpectedly tacked on to bills intended to deal with purely English questions. Such Scottish legislation as is introduced is initiated by the permanent officials of the different Boards, is prepared in London, and becomes a Government measure before Scottish members have had a chance of discussing it. However overwhelming the preponderance of opinion may be among Scottish representatives in favour of any particular social or political reform, it is rarely possible for the will of the people of Scotland to secure legislative effect. As with Ireland, so it is with Scotland; the House of Lords has been the millstone to progress, and to democratise self-government in the various parts of the Empire. The Lords have killed most of the introduced legislation to benefit Scotland as they have that intended to benefit Ireland. There was not a session before the war in which Scotch and Irish measures were not ruthlessly pitched into the waste-paper basket. “The Scotch Small Landholder’s Bill,” “Scotch Land Values Bill,” “Scotch House-let-ting Bill,” and many other instances disclose that the nominated House would not tolerate anything of a democratic or national character for either Ireland or Scotland. This great war has, however, given considerable impetus to the evolution of Government; heavy increasing responsibilities, and the democratic writings across the heavens, have brought about internal revolution in the nominated chamber, indicating that the time is not far distant when, as in overseas dominions, both Irish and Scotch, Saxon and Celt, will be called upon under a parliamentary system to exercise their right to self-govem. ment.