THE IRISH QUESTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 259, 2 May 1912, Page 5

THE IRISH QUESTION

THE HOME RULE BILL. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, April 30. Mr. Churchill, in moving the second reading of the Home Rule Bill, said that the question of Home Rule in Ireland was not comparable in importance to the growing discontent of the laboring population. Since Mr. Gladstone took up Home Rule violence in Ireland had been no more serious than in labor disputes in Britain. AN ANIMATED DEBATE. London, April 1. The House of Commons, by 233 votes : to 147, refused Mr. Harold Smith, the; Unionist member for Warrington, leaveto introduce a Bill to repeal the preamble of the Parliament Act. Mr. Smith argued that the promise to reform the House of Lords contained in the Bill had not been fulfilled. Moreover, the Government was taking advantage of it to pass the Home Rule Bill, which was never a separatist movement. The present demand was moderate, and never before had so little been asked, but never before had so many asked for it. He denied that' if involved any naval and military risks. There was no likelihood of divergent views in the event of war. The Bill removed every ground of quarrel. Anything that would ruin England would also ruin Ireland. If the Irish deliberately sought to create a deadlock, the Bill provided a remedy. The Imperial Parliament could resume its delegated powers and vindicate the law by force. He strongly appealed for Ulster's co-operation. It would be a great disaster for Ireland if Ulstermen held aloof from the National Parliament. Ulster had duties equally with rights. The Protestants of the North had a plain duty to their co-religionists in the rest of Ireland and overseas. The dominions would stand by the ship if the* Ulstermen refused to bring the ship safely to port. They would not be allowed to obstruct salvage work. The Right Hon. W. H. Long said that the Bill would bring war and not peace. Its financial provisions were unsound. Tt was a dishonest Bill, and made federalism tenfold more difficult. 1

Mr. Charles Craig declared that he wished to make it perfectly clear that Ulster would resist the Irish Parliament, if necessary, by force of arms.