IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2521, 27 June 1893, Page 1

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

London, June 23. Mr Gladstone has submitted to the House of Commons new financial proposals with regard to Home Rule. The proposals retain the existing financial arrangements between Great Britain and Ireland for six years, when they are to be revised. The Irish Parliament is to be unable to interfere with existing taxation .though able to impose fresh- taxation. Ireland is to contribute for Imperial purposes one-third of her ascertained revenue and also any new war tax which may be imposed. Clauses 11,13, and 21 have been dropped, whilst others are remodelled. In the House of Commons, Mr J. P. Smith, Unionist, moved an amendment to prevent a censorship of the press by the Irish Parliament and the suppression of the right of meeting. The proposal was received with great uproar. Sir John Rigby, the Solicitor-General, said that the Government did not intend to accept the amendment, as this was an Imperial Bill. The announcement was received by the Irish members with cheers. Mr Balfour said that the measure was merely a copy of an American Bill. Mr Sexton retorted that the Conservatives desired to facilitate rebellion and suppress comment. The amendment was negatived. The Right Hon. Dr Plunkett moved an amendment, to prevent legislation as to the control of Trinity College, Dublin. Mr Gladstone said if the amendment were agreed to, it would practically cause the College to be transplanted to England. Mr Balfour said that the amendment was intended to prevent the influence of priests being used against the institution. The amendment was negatived by 42. Persistent reports are current that three members of the Cabinet desire to postpone the Home Rule Bill, and proceed with other measures.

June 24. The evidence given before Lord Onslow's Committee to-day favoured the marking of frozen meat by means of electricity, though the witnesses were unable to guarantee that it would not disfigure the meat. In the House of Commons to-day, Dr Gaven Brown Clark, member for Caithness, tabled a motion, affirming the desirability of Home Rule being extended to Scotland. Sir George O. Trevelyan, Secretary for Scotland, said that the Government regarded autonomy for Scotland as an open question, but were willing to appoint a Grand Committee of Scottish members to deal with the nation's affairs. He argued that it was notorious that the Honse of Commons had failed to legislate on matters affecting Scotland. I he motion was rejected by 168 to 150. An amendment intended to protest against legislation incited by the priests, was rejected by 34 after the closure had been applied. Clause 4 of the Home Rule Bill has been passed. Mr Gladstone admitted that the Irish Legislature ought to control primary education, with power to found at the public expense a purely Roman Catholic University. Mr Justin McCarthy has acceded Mr Gladstone's new financial proposals with regard to Home Rule. Mr Redmond is opposed to them, and says that the alteration in the Bill is humiliating and unjust. The Government will possibly propose that the Irish Government collect taxes as agents of the imperial Government. The Unionists believe that the Ministry is riding for a fall. The scheme is thought to indicate the retention of the full number of Irish members at Westminsters

Tho Redmonds intend to propose that the collection of Customs aud Excise duties should be transferred to the Irish Parliament at the end of six years, meanwhile the Irish should contribute to the Import Exchequer one-fourth of the ascertained revenue until a Royal Commission reported on the financial relations of the two countries. The leaders, of the Unionist party threaten to move a vote of censure on thfi Government if closure is insisted Viyon with regard to the Home Ifole Bill.