HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 87, 1 April 1908, Page 3

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.

DEBATE IX THE COMMOXS. "XO HALE-WAY HOUSE.' FAVORABLE MOTION CARRIED. AX IRISH PARLIAMENT. SUBJECT TO IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. LIVELY PROCEEDINGS. Received 3IM, 10.52 p.m. London, March 31.

In the House of Commons, Mr. John Sedmond moved a resolution Wat the System of government iu Irel md was in•uQicient, extravagant, costly, ami pro« ductivc of universal discontent and unrest, and that the only solution would to to give an Irish legislative executive atntrol of all purely Irish affairs. He Claimed that the resolution was necest»ry to free Liberals at the next general aUetiou from the unfortunate pledges .which debarred the party of convinced Home Rulers giving effect to their «ouvictions that Ireland was not content with a half-way house scheme. H« eloquently pleaded the right of the Irish to develop the resources of their •ountry, and the power to heal the [wounds indicted through class hitrcd find religious dissension. Earl Percy, vx -Under-Secretary for foreign Affairs, moved an amendment declaring that if the Imperial Parliament abandoned its undivided responsibility it would injure the prosperity ol Ireland and imperil the security of Britain, and that therefore the House w.:s unalterably opposed to the creation ot mn Irish Parliament with a responsible executive. He declared that Home Bule was a losing cause, not merely because its advocates were becoming fainthearted, but because the new ideal of Closer union of all parts of the Empire was firing the enthusiasm of the British people. There was no doubt which jrould win, now that success in war and Commerce depended on concentration Bnd union. | Mr. Birrel, Chief Secretary for Ireland, said Ireland could ""I wait indefinitely for urgent reforms unless there was to be something like hell in Ireland, not murder and crime, but profound discontent, misery, and dislocation of society. Something, he said, must be done. He believed the affairs of Ireland Xequired a Parliament giving its exclusive attention to its affairs. Mr. Samuel Butcher, on behalf of the Protestant minority, declared that Home ' Bule would be not simply a political ex- j ! oeriment, but a desperate gamble wi£li i Imperial interests. :

Mr. G. Clark, member lor Belfast, caused a scene, applying the epithet* "ignorant" and "lazy peasantry"' to the west of Ireland. Mr. John O'Connor (North Kiidare; challenged Clark to repeat the words outside- He called him a "euff.ird'"*and ■ "«a<L"

The Deputy Speaker named O'Connor when the latter refused to withdraw ];- remarks.

O'Connor, amidst the cheers of the Irish Party, left the House. Mr. Balfour, ei-Prcmier, denied the analogy between Ireland anil the -el: governing colonies. He reminded the House that Che political process between countries in modern times was one of integration, not disintegration. Mr. Aixjuith, Chancellor of the Exchequer, atlinned that he strongly favored self-government in regard to purely local affair*. He was unable to vote on the motion liceause it contained no explicit recognition of the continued paramount supremacy of the Imperial Parliament, besides wjiicli the parly could not proceed with Home Rule during the lifetime of the present Pirliament. He intended to vote against the amendment because of its barren negation. Mr. Tim llealy (Louth) violently attacked Mr. Asquitb. The amendment was rejected by 331 to 14"2, and the resolution carried by 315 to 157, after Mr. Simmons' addition that a Home Rule Parliament uiu?t be subject to the supreme authority 01" the Imperial Parliament.