IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 289, 26 April 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

THE VETO BILL. HOME RULE INCLUDED IN ITS OPERATIONS. By cable—Press Association.—Copyright Received 25, 11.15 p.m. London, April 25. In the House of Commons, during the debate on clause 2 of the Veto Bill. Mr. J. B. Longsdale (member for Armagh) moved an amendment to exclude Home Rule from the operation of the Bill, but the amendment was negatived by 284 to 190. Sir J. C. Cory (Liberal) voted against the Government and Captain Waring for. Several liberals abstained from voting. Mr. Longsdale argued that when not 40 per cent, of the Ministerialists referred to Home Rule at last elections, if Home Rule were passed over the heads of the Lords the people of Ulster would not acknowledge the Government authority, and it would not pay taxes. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald declared that . the great mass of electors, when asked, gave the Commons more authority, namely, put the House in a sovereign position to realise Home Rule. Other firstclass measures' would follow inevitably, hence the willingness in America to unite with other sections in favor of the Taft-Grey treaty.

MR. BALFOUR AND THE MINISTRY.

Received 25, 11.15 p.m. London, April 25. Mr. Asquith said that clause 2 offered the most serious obstacles to ill-consider-ed measures. Any Home Rule Bill must be discussed in three sessions, namely, for over two years. Anything passing that ordeal must represent the country's will and judgment. He quoted his own and also the Unionist declarations to prove that he had made it clear that the majority were in favor of the present Bill being used to carry Home Rule. Mr. Balfour declared that Ministers at the general election laid the whole emphasis on the House of Lords issue, and threw Home Rule into the background. TAUNTING THE CABINET. Received 26, 1.16 a.m. London, April 25. Mr. Balfour added that Home Rule, the greatest of all issues, had been disguised, and the power given to thus surreptitiously override the people's opinion on the Home Rule issue. Ministers did not dare to submit Home Rule to the test of a general election.