BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9048, 6 February 1908, Page 5

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

CABLE HEWS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

GOVERNMENT'S IRISH POLICY DENOUNCED. CATTLE-DRIVING CHECKED. "RESULT OF SOME COMPROMISE." "SITTING WITH FOLDED HANDS." MR BIRRELL'S DEFENCE. Received Ferbuary 5, 8.3 a.m. LONDON, February 4. In the House of Commons, the Right Hon. W. H. Long, who occupied the position of Chief Secretary for Ireland in the last Unionist Administration, moved th 3 adoption of a regulation dealing with Ireland. He said that though cattle-"driving" had been checked, it was not as the result of vigorous administration, but of some compromise between the Government and the Nationalists. He dwelt on the increase in shooting and agrarian outrages, and emphasised the fact that there was terrible boycotting. Yet, he said, the Government sat with folded hands when it possessed an effective instrument in the shape of the Crimes Act. The Right Hon. A. Birrell, Chief Secretary for Ireland, a vigorous defence of his policy. He affirmed that the permanent peace and prosperity of Ireland depended on the settlement, of the land question and the speedy acquisition of untenanted land for distribution in economic holdings. Catt'e-"driving" did not terrify him, but the price of land and stock, the possibility of bad seasons, and the fear of disappointing land-hungry people did. The executive had worked the ordinary law with the utmost vigour. The fact that juries sympathised with the cattle-"drivers" did not, in his opinion, justify dispensing with juries and resorting to coercion. He indignantly denied entering into a corrupt bargain with the Catholic bishops with regard to university education. He added that he would be a monster if lie stood aside and allowed crime to continue in order to bolster up Home Rule. The Crimes Act would not stop outrages, and he flatly refused to put the statute into force. .The debate was adjourned. Received February 5, 9.1 a.m. LONDON, February 4. Mr Birrell, in reply to Mr H. Staveley-Hill. Conservative, said there had been 334 cases of cattle"driving" since June. Animals had been injured in twenty-seven cases, but none of the owners had been personally injured.

INDIANS IN THE TRANSVAAL. DISCUSSION IN HOUSE OF LORDS.

Received February 5, 11 p.m. LONDON, February 5. Lord Ampthill raised a debate in the House of Lords on the treatment of British Indians in the Transvaal. He expressed satisfaction that a compromise had been'arranged, *,houghthe Government ought to have secured a settlement before granting the Transvaal self-govern-ment. Lord Curzon said the settlement was not final from the standpoints of the Indians and colonials which were entirely different. The two forces were pulling in opposite directions, and he urged that the restrictions ought to be as little vexatious and injurious as possible. The educated and higher classes of natives ought not to'be herded with ' men of lower degree. Lord Elgin said that settlement had been arranged which was satisfactory to both parties. The Indians were excluded from the colonies not on account of their bad qualities but because of their good qualities—patient industry, frugality and temperance —which made them such formidable competitors to the white men. In future the Indian community in the Transvaal, though limited in numbers, would occupy a definite and honourable position. The Marquis of Lansdowne said the Government might have bargained and made better terms. The subject then dropped.