HOME RULE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 410, 12 October 1889, Page 4

HOME RULE.

Auckland, October 8. A meeting of the "Progressive League was held last evening, in Kobson's Rooms, Mr T. White (president) in the chair. Sevoral visitors were present. The debate on "Home Rule" was reopened by Mr Pheney. He commenced by giving a .-hort review of the history of the connection of England with Ireland. Ireland's wrongs in the past had been many. After William 111. conquered the country thousands of Irishmen left the land and entered the service of Louis of France. At one time the Iri&h woollen manufacture 'vas an important industry, but the English manufactuierb became jealous and induced the Government to forbid the importation of those goods into England. Thus another industry was killed. In William 111. 'a reign a religious war took place between the Catholics and Prote&tantb, ending in the Treaty of Limerick. In 1800 the Act of Union was passed. The majority of the population were Catholics and the ruling minoriiy were Protestants, who notonly held power in Ireland, but also had great influence in the English Parliament, and they used this influence on their own behalf. Free trade between the two countries was one of the results of the Union. One stipulation of the Act of Union was j that the English and Irish Prosestant chuiches were to be united. He described the various Land Acts passed tor the benefit of the Irish farmers as sops to quieten the Irith. He said Ireland was in a very different position now to what it was a few years ago. The peasants were better educated, and had many more advantages, which they had obtained by fighting for them. He thought Mr Gladstone's scheme a very fair attempt to do Ireland justice ; also that a parliament meeting in Dublin would tend to deciease absentee landlordism, which in itself was worth lighting for It would alfao tend to facilitate business in the English Parliament, which at present was largely engaged in Irith aflairs. Mr A. Withy said that some people thought Irish wrongs wero a thing of the past, but he denied this, and instanced the evictions that wero continually taking place. He agreed with Mr Gladstone's scheme, but repudiated any idea of separation, and believed any sane Englishman or Irishman did the same. Mr C. T. Renshaw said the results of Home Rule could not be worse than those of the present system. The present attempt at governing Ireland by the Imperial Parliament was a total failure. He believed in Home Rule for Ireland and decentralisation. In answering the arguments brought against it. he said that one of them (separation) was a ridiculous one, so also was the cry, "Rome Rule." He characterised " Orangeism "as " tomfoolery." Mr Farnngton believed with Mr Pheney that "landlordism" was the curse of Ireland. Men could be found in the south of Ireland who had made fortunes and did nob care whether they had Home Rule or not, but there was the opposite ot this picture. He certainly didn't think Ireland should have the same government as the colon es, for he was so thoroughly dissatisfied with colonial government that he didn't think it was a very desirable thing. Mr West thought we had a great deal to do with Home Rule. Irish business had for years been blocking important measures in the Imperial Parliament 1 . He thought Ireland should have Home Rule because a majority of the people wanted it. It was a wonder there had not been a general uprising in Ireland through the people being put upon so much. He said that the energy wa? crushed out of the people by their improvements being taxed — that i&, their improved farms being charged higher rents. Mr Creeth wanted to know what answer Home Rulers gave to the objection of the anfci-Home Ruler? that Ireland might possibly allow her harbours to be used by foreign fleets in time of war, so that it would be made a base of operations againmt Eng and. Mr Parkinson thought land nationalisation would go far towards settling the question, and that it was wanted not only for Ireland, but for the whole British Empire. Mr Fowlds was proud to belong to that part ot the Empire that had given a decided opinion in favour of Home Rule for Ireland — viz., Scotland. He also thought land nationalisation the root of the difficulty. He thought if Home Rule were granted it would make us all united, instead of the disunion existing at present, and would certain? y facilitate the despatch of business in the English Parliament.

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