IRISH AFFAIRS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1757, 30 June 1888, Page 1

IRISH AFFAIRS.

Lohdon, June 26.

In speaking to his motion of censure Mr Morley said that seventeen members of the House of Commons had been imprisoned under Government administration in Ireland, and that at the present time there were forty political offenders confined in a single gaol. He challenged the justice, the expediency, or the wisdom of the course adopted by Government in dealing with affairs in Ireland, also the statements that their Irish policy had been a success. He charged the authorities with provoking outrages by the manner in which they treated offenders committed under the Plan of Campaign, which, he asserted, had done no substantial injustice, Mr Goschen replied that when Mr Gladstone resigned the Premiership there was little respect paid to the law by the Irish, and love for England waß declining. Mr Dillon, he said, was an agrarian, not a political, prisoner. The true reason of the Opposition bsing indignant at the policy of Government was, he thought, because the Plan of Campaign had been defeated. In the course of the debate on Mr Morley's amendment, Mr Gladstone said he believed that at the first opportunity the country would unequivocally condemn the existing state of affairs in Ireland, where a repressive policy had proved o failure. Mr Balfour said there w»,s to-day less crime in Ireland than had been known for years. Rents Were paid and social difficulties were disappearing. On the motion of Mr O'Brien the debate was adjourned. Later, Mr Balfour denied that Government had at any time withheld informaf-rn as to the operation oi the law so far. With regard to Mr Dillon, he said he w»s an ordinary prison-T, and was b.'iug treated as such.

During the discussion on Mr Morley's motion of censuie Mr O'Brien defended the Plan of Campaign. Mr Gladstone complained that Government had refused to give information as to the operation of the exceptional laws. The treatment of Mr Dillon, he considered, had been harsh, cruel, and mean, and the conduct of the magistrates who committed bim was equally scandalous with that of the Judge who had sentenced him, June 27. The division on Mr Morley's amendment was taken this evening with the result that the amendment was negatived by 93. The figures were, for the amendment 273, against 366.