IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1919, Page 8

IRELAND.

HOME RULE BILL. SPEECH BY ME. LLOYD GEORGE. London, Dec. 22. Elaborate precautions were taken tc prevent Sinn Fein demonstrations in tlif House o£ Commons when Mr. Llovd George outlined the eagerly-awaited Irish proposals, strong guards having been posted. The Nationalists were absent. At the outset the Premier emphasised that his part was as difficult a one as ever confronted a Minister, especially after the discreditable outrage on Friday, An atmosphere charged with the reek of an attempted assassination was not favorable to the promotion of a measure of reconciliation, but Parliament would not be swept away by indignation. The Premier paid an eloquent tribute to Lord French, and expressed appreciation for the heads of the Catholic Church who lost no time in denouncing the outrage. He stressed the fact that not one of the proposals, though acceptable to British opinion, stood any chance oi acceptance owing to the present position of Irish affairs. The Government's plan was based on the recognition of three fundamental facts: (1) The impossibility of severing Ireland from the United Kingdom. (2) The opposition of Nationalist Ireland to British rule in Ireland, despite the fact that Ireland was never so prosperous. (3) The opposition of North-East Ireland to Irish rule. Subject to those three conditions the Government proposed that self-govern-ment be conferred on the whole of Ireland through the establishment of two legislatures, one to be a Parliament oi Southern Ireland and the other a Parliament of Northern Ireland.—Aus.-N,Z Cable Assn. ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS. Mr. Lloyd George said that four alternative proposals had, been discussed regarding the areas: 1. That Ulster form one unit and the other three provinces the other unit. 2. County option. 3. That the six north-eastfern counties form one unit. All these proposals containe'd objectionable schemes regarding the division of population. • The fourth suggestion was to ascertain the homogeneous north-eastern section and constitute it a separate area, eliminating, where practicable, the Catholic communities, whilst including the Protestant communities in the co-terminous counties in order to produce an area as homogeneous' as possible under the circumstances. It was further proposed to constitute a Council of Ireland, consisting of representatives of both legislatures and serving as a link between the two sections of Ireland whereby the joint administration of common services could be arranged. A SINGLE PARLIAMENT POSSIBLE. The Jrish Legislatures would have complete discretion regarding the powers conferred on the Council and the services to be jointly controlledThe Irish Legislatures would also have full powers, without further reference to the Imperial Parliament, to create a single Irish Legislature if both sections desired it. Tt would thus rest with the Irish people themselves to determine whether they wanted union. As a greater inducement additional taxing powers would he handed over to the Irish Parliament as soon as. unity was accomplished. Representation at Westminster would be reduced to 40 members. POWERS OF PARLIAMENT. Certain powers would be reserved to the Imperial Crown, including peace and war, foreign affairs, the army and navy, defence, treason, trade outside Ireland, navigation (including merchant shipping), wireless and cables, coinage, trademarks, lighthouses, also the higher judiciary, pending the agreement of the two Legislatures regarding the method of appointment. The powers of the Irish Parliament would be most considerable. They would have full control of education, local government, land, agriculture, roads, bridges, transportation, including railways and canals, old age pensions, insurance, municipal affairs, local judiciary, hospitals, labor legislation, and licensing—all the machinery for the maintenance of law and order except the higher judiciary, army and navy. FINANCIAL QUESTIONS. Mr. Lloyd George said it was not proposed to retain the control of the police in Imperial hands .beyond three years, while security would' be given to all members of the police force, civil service and post office, that they should not be | transferred until both parts of Ireland had united and those concerned were I asking for a change. There would also be clauses for the protection of minorities. Dealing with finance, Mr. Lloyd George declared that the absence of provision in the 1!)I4 Bill for a contribution towards | the maintenance of tile Empire was a supreme injustice to the tax-payers of Britain. The Government proposed to give the Irish Governments the whole advantage of those taxes raised in Ireland in excess of a fair contribution to the Imperial services. Thus the revenue of Ireland in 191S-19 was. £41,478,000, and the expenditure ,£2.1,500,000. Therefore there would be a contribution of IS millions towards Imperial expenditure, which included war pensions. Each Parliament would be granted one million to cover initial expenditure, while the proceeds of the land annuities would be handed over also as a free gift to Ireland •—totalling three millions. The two Parliaments would have taxation powers similar to those of tlie American States, Income-tax l , supertax, excess-profits, customs and excise, would be collected by the Imperial authorities, but when Ireland became united the Imperial Government could consider whether the Customs should be handed over. FINAL WORDS. ! Concluding the Prime Minister pleaded for the closing of the chapter of mistakes, follies and crimes on both sides. The question now was not who was blameworthy, but liow to set it right. It was important that both should realise thoroughly the Imitations of acceptance. Unless Ireland had real J control of her purely domestic affairs it I was idle to proceed.' On the other hand Britain could not accept separation. Men j who thought Britain could be compelled by force to con.-r-de anything unjust to her own people or fatal to her own life | find security could not Hve read Jhe I

story of the last five years. This was not the time when anyone could suspect Britain of conceding from weakness. Would anyone taunt the land that destroyed the greatest military empire of the world, largely by its own power, that it was simply 'quailing before a band of wretched assassins? The world would know that Britain was entering upon a scheme prompted by the deep sense of justice which had stained the land through these last years of sacrifice.