HOME RULE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1920, Page 5

HOME RULE.

DETAILS OF THE SCHEME. TWO SEfAIIATE GOVERNMENTS. By Telegraph.—Pms Assn.—Copyright. London, March 1. The new Home Rule Bill has been published. It provides for a Council of J reland to consist of a President, appointed by the King, and 20 members each for northern and southern Ireland and Houses of Commons. Both the' latter aro (prohibited from interfering with religious equality. The Irish members to the Imperial Parliament are laid down at 42. Of IS millions, fixed in the first instance as the Irish contribution to Imperial expenditure, 56 per cent, will be apportioned to Southern and 44 per cent, to Northern Ireland. The legal system provides a Court of Appeal for each division and a superior Court of Appeal embracing the whole of Ireland, from which there is an appeal to the House of Lords. A special provision protects from Parliamentary action the Tights of Dublin University, Trinity College, Dublin, and 'Queen's College, Belfast, unless the college authorities approve. A clause lays down that the existing enactments relative to unlawful oaths and assemblies in Ireland shall not apply to Irish Masonry, whose privileges are protected from Parliamentary action. The Bill confirms the previous forecast that a clean cut is made of the Northern counties for the Northern Parliament, which is described as consisting of the Parliamentary counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone, with the Parliamentary boroughs of Belfast and Londonderry .-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE BILL CRITICISED. "PREFERABLE TO INACTION." Received March 3, 7.25 p.m. London, Feb. 28. The Times, in a leader, says the Home Rule Bill exceeds the strict demands of justice to Ulster. The Government is profoundly mistaken in substituting a joint council for the structure of an Irish Parliament, and has flouted the traditional ideal of the Irish people for the sake of placating the sensitiveness of Claterites, who are loft insufficient inducements to co-operate with southerners. Tile success of the whole scheme, however, depends upon Parliamentary amendments to the Bill, v.-hich even as it stands is preferable to inaction—Times Service.