IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 139, 30 October 1912, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

"LEGISLATIVE INSANITY." By o»hle—Preea Association—Copyright. London, October 28. In the House of Commons Sir J. B. Lonsdale. Unionist member for Mid Armagh, asked, if the Government really trusted the Irish, why should they re- * gerve the control of the constabulary for ■ix years. The Hon. A. Birrell replied that it would be cruel and unfair to saddle the new Government with the organisation of a great body like the constabulary, »nd it would also be harsh on the constabulary to hand them over suddenly to new masters. Mr. Balfour said he wondered, after Mr. Birrell's explanation, if the Government were really giving Home Rule to the Irish. To say the Irish Parliament would be unable to carry out its duties for six years was illogical. The whole measure was an extraordinary piece of legislative insanity. ELECTION OF SENATE.' Received 30, 1 a.m. London, October 29. The Government is prepared to apply the principle of proportional representation to the election for the Irish Senate. In the House of Commons, clauses five to six of the Home Rule BUI were passed under the guillotine. The Unionists declared that the Nationalists accepted the postponement of the control of the constabulary for the sexennium, hoping that the Imperial Government would coerce Ulster.

Mr. Birrell said the military aspect of tie force would gradually disappear, and he hoped at the end of the sexennium they would reduce and then transfer them into the poliee force.