HOME RULE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 9 November 1912, Page 5

HOME RULE.

CABLE NEWS

(United rrua Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

QUESTION OF FINANCE. AN INTERESTING DEBATE. (Received Last Night, 10 o'clock.) LONDON, November 8. The House of Commons lias begun a discussion on the question of Irish finance, which is likely to occupy several sittings. Tlit, R/ight Hon Herbert Samuel, in moving his resolutions dealing with tho subject, said the Irish deficit must be taken as a dominant factor, and not be considered an essenco of Home Rule. That deficit would rest for all time on the British taxpayer; but the burden could not immediately be thrown on Ireland. It was therefore necessary for nominal increments of the Irish revenue to go into the Imperial Exchequer, until tho accounts were balanced. Tho Bill did not give fiscal autonomy. In no federation did a province involve a central exchequer. The annual loss, therefore, in connection with Irel'iml. would be different to all federal precedents. Tvlr Austin Chamberlain said the Go-ernm-ent's proposal broke every federal precedent. Because Ireland had a deficit, was that country, he asked, to be granted greater powers than the loc.il legislature of any federation P The financial scheme would not heal tho old feuds, but would open new ones. J Mr William O'Brien said the proposal stripped tho Irish of the control i cf five-sixths of their own taxation.

The Right Hon D. Lloyd-Georgo said England wa-s giving nothing that was not already being given to Ireland. It was dishonest to assert that Ireland was finding two million of moneys to finance Home Rule. Mr Bonar-Law contrasted New •South Wales, sacrificing Free-trade to secure union, with England sacrificing it, not for union, but for disintegration. The resolution was carried by 320 votes to 181, with the aid <;!' the guillotine.

IMPORTANT MEMORANDUM. DEALING WITH CUSTOMS. (Received Last Night, 11.20 o'clock.) LONDON, November 8. A memorandum representing the views of seventy Liberal members of 'the House of Commons, lias been cir-cu-lated in Westminster. The members opjioso clauses fifteen and sixteen of the Homo Rule Bill. Tho clauses permit the Irish Parliament, to reduce and increase the Customs duties. The memorandum arguos that clauses are calculated to lead to Customs barriers, and urges that the Government should leave tho matter to the unfettered _ decision of tho House.