HOME RULE. THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 414, 26 October 1889, Page 5

HOME RULE. THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.

Auckland, October 22. The usual meeting of the League was held last evening in Robson's Rooms. Mr E. A. Farrington occupied the chair. Mr Henry reopened the discussion on " Home Rule." He said that from the talk about Irish evictions one would think no evictions occurred in any other country ; but what was the fact ? Why, that evictions were more frequent in London alone, and more heartrending accounts could be heard, of the terrible suffering and depravity (chiefly caused by poverty) there than in any counti*y in the world. He thought they move Heeded pity than the Irish, for very often it was their own fault that the Irish tenants were evicted. Mr T. West gave the following definition of Home Rule :—": — " That Ireland should have a parliament of her own to manage fcer own domestic affaire, leaving the control of the colonies and army, navy, and all Imperial matters to the Imperial Parliament.". As fai\as.Rome Rulejvas concerned, he said that intolerance was noli the rule in Ireland with the Catholics. He did not think they would change if Home Rule were granted. He thought the Parnell trial Had completely cleared Mr Parnell from any connection w ith the dynamite party. Mr Creeth' said that f here was no proof that if Ireland had Homellule they would do any better or be more contented tha'h they are now. jJJr Douglas bpoke of the inseciuity ol

life in Ii eland. He thought when the English troops wore sent out of the country, there would be room for a inn, foreign garrison (Fronch probably). Mr A. Withy thought the great argument in favour of Home Rule was the ju«tico of it. He said that the people who made the land what it is — their improvements were taxed. Home Kule would introduce the single tax. There was no tear that England and Scotland would lag behind in that matter, for if they did they would, be depopulated by emigration to Ireland. Mr Parkinson was in fa\our of extending the principle of County Councils in Ireland. He thought that giving Ireland Home Kule was against the Jmpeiial Federation scheme. Ho thought alto that land nationalisation would settle tho difficulty, but they should combine with the English Liberals to secure this splendid measure tor the whole of tho United Kingdom. Mr C. T. Renshaw thought anyone studying this question, if unbiassed, must conclude that Home Rule is light and just, the principle being unquestionable. \Ytintex er the icsulto would bo under Irish eelfgo\ eminent, they could not be worse than under the present system. Iteland wa.> more dangerous to England now than she would be if granted Homo Rule. "MrT. West defended himself from being considered a Home Ruler because Mr Gladstone was a Home Ruler. Catholic emancipation in England had entirely done away with the difficulty th-ro, and no danger need be anticipated under sell government. Mr A. J. Bridge water .vud that Canada was not a paiallol case to Ii eland, because Ireland was close to Biitain, whilst Canada was nearly 3,000 miles away. Mr Maughan failed to see how the act of union could damage the interests of Iteland. Tbo bottom of the difficulty might be tiaced to the Roman Catholic.