THE HOME RULE BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 205, 18 January 1913, Page 5

THE HOME RULE BILL.

i DlMf-MSiIEU VIRULENCE. By CaUe—»l'rcs* Association—Copyright. London. January 16. Continuing the debate, Sir John Simon emphasised the diminished virulence of the Home Rule controversy, as compared with formerly. Mr. F. E. Smith asked the Prime Minister to declare'the terms on which the Government would consent to the exclusion of Ulster from the scope of the Bill. Mr. Redmond said the exclusion would be opposed chiefly on the ground that nothing would compensate the Nationalists for the mutilation of the country. THE THIRD READING CARRIED. A MAJORITY OF 110. London, January 10. Mr. Balfour's amendment was rejected by 308 votes to 258, and the Bill read a third time by 367 votes to 257. the Nationalists and Ministerialists cheering wildly. [The division is a large one, but there are 070 members in the House, so that 44 must have been paired or unaccounted for.] EXCITING SCENES. THE BILL BURNED IN BELFAST. London, January 16. In the House of Commons the Nationalists shouted themselves hoarse and cheered Parnell, Kedmond, Asquith and the British Democracy. A frantically cheering crowd filled the outer lobby. At the demonstration at Whitehall there were cheers and counter cheers and some cries of "Ulster will fight!" There was a demonstration outside the Constitutional Club, where the result was greeted with groans. Mr. I. E. Smith, addressing the crowd, said the fate of the Bill was not determined In the House of Commons but in the streets of Belfast. The Bill has been read a first time in the Lords. There is much excitement in Belfast, where the Bill was publicly burned. "LAST SCENE OF ALL." THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL. A HISTORICAL MOMENT. >• Received 18, 12.20 a.m. Lotidon, January 17. The galleries were overflowing for the final debate. Sir Joseph Ward was among those present. The speeches were below Wednesday's level. .Sir J. Simon made a barbed allusion to Mr. Bonar Law's promise last year of special advantages that would accrue to Ireland from tariff reform. He wished to know whether the offer was still open. Mr. Smith paid a tribute to Mr. Asquith's speech, but said that the Government were all optimists. The Irish and Mr. Asquith had indulged in a process of mutual accommodation. They would give him Welsh curates and he would give them Ulster. Mr. Redmond's speech was flat until he touched a personal note, when he referred to the four generations that his family had sent to Westminster to advance Ireland's cause. He declared that millions of Irish descent were eagerly awaiting news of the passage of the Bill, which would reconcile England and the Empire. He regarded the Bill as a final settlement of an international quarrel, lot purely a provisional settlement of financial arrangements.

Mr. Bonar Law said that Air. Redmond knew that the financial provisions were an elaborate pretence, but with the leverage of an Irish Parliament he could alter them as he pleased. It was ridiculous to claim that the Bill was the beginning of a federal system or would relieve the congestion at Westminster. No retaliation was better justified than Ulster' 6, where the people were ready to sacrifice their lives, and the Government knew it.

Mr. A. Birrell wound up the debate. He refused to be scared by the spectre of civil war conjured up by those disliking the Bill. The guillotine fell helore he concluded. The announcement of the division was the signal for prolonged cheering, and the. waving of handkerchiefs and order papers. The cheers were taken up by the crowd in the lobbie.# Hats and sticks were waved, and cries of "God eave Ireland" were heard. Outside the House of Commons the crowd was not large. It cheered, and there was some hooting, but no disorder.

Nine invalided Unionist members were unable to secure pairs. Two hundred and forty-eight Liberals. 82 Nationalists and 37 Laborites voted for the Bill. Lord Roberts and Mr. Cory voted against it. Mr. Redmond has issued a message thanking the Liberals and Laborites and the Scottish and Welsh members for championing justice for Ireland. Irishmen at home or in exile would accept the Bill a? a British act of appeasement and reconciliation, welding an indissoluble bond of brotherhood and affection for the motherland, and immeasurably strengthening' the Eai-.'re.