MASTERTON DEBATING SOCIETY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 15 July 1882, Page 2

MASTERTON DEBATING SOCIETY

The usual -weekly meeting last evening was well alten'dedv Mr.P. Chapman occupying the chair. ' Mr Girdwood in opening the debate gave his reasons for grant- * ing ■ home rale. They would allow thai; .the 'British constitution was the - fittest in (he world, and they should not selfishly (debar the Irish from similar . privileges. He considered that Ireland had not had her righta.of union respeoted and hadf r&aiori 'to- calK.for ;dis-tmiou .< Ireland up|)eared : to ; have, bean tacked on tq England to, swell the name of Great Britain.' In .1819 a committee reported •to the House, that Ireland was in a state . and..required redress.; ;: Thi» report' was' neglected, mittfle reported lroland in a depute itate and required immediate legation. Thisreport ,waa received,- but no' further action was taken In 1829 a third c6m- , mittefe' repotted a similarßtato ofwretiflbd'; ness. These reports should have artnwed the British instino a for • alleviating I suffering, but their eyes were shut to all. Might whs. right I Now the feeling was better. Libeity was called for by British subjects, Many uufounded accusations were • brought against the Irish, auoh' aa" their barbarism but it a'roßefromtheir treatment •by'he British,. Thesptaker was in Ireland just about the time of the famine 0f1846, and could not. picture tho snd stntu caused :t>y;liindlordißm and , bad land laws, In 1870 the )jand;Law6 were •re.oupstructed, but : were; impracliba6lo. ' There was a great difference between the Laud Laws of Scotland ahd Ireland, yet even Scutl«nd was now aiiitatihg : for, reform,.". Scotland win' petted .nid helped, but Ireland - was sbairdalised'foivpreciseiy the same faults, ■Uniif'the-Irish uiake their own .laws there.woiild be no' justioe or peace. Let them. ; db;tms ; au(] Ireland would become an open "friend instead of a secret fee, ThVlrish would be peaceful and contented and would assist England by supplying her,armies . with recruits. The present. <&nd LatWs ' and' 'landlords should be I'treiied as the, slave trade in America was. England found 'she 'was iiot strong enough' ■to tax America, yet ihe.J3tai.es.'are as ; profitable' to England as when they were a fag .end-of the-British dominions.

'■ ' Mf.Grundy following in the negative said he.had no ill will against the Irish. 'lMhe Irish : weie.;,allo'wed "Hoine Rule they would not. be satisfied, but would declare independence,!. Tho Land Laws of Ireland - were now .the most liberal of any in the world, and far superior to the English' and Sootoh,. Gladstone's. Land protided for purchase of estates inland by the Irish on easy deferred paym0 ;^ys.te%Scotplj.andEDgluliwerehow Act? strugglo wu not for llberiy, and : the majority of j absentee landlords were Irish,• ; Nothing * oould justify the,horrible atrocitiesiwhieh had lately been cnmmitted. What would be the result'if Home Rule were granted 1 There would be, neither rulers nor sub•jects'left in Six months'! If Parliament granted it to Ireland; in case (if differences between England and other nations the latter would find a strong ally in' tin Irish. When such an ultra-radical statesman as Chamberlain and suob men as Gladstone and Bright refuse' Home Rule there must be grave reason for their decision. Ireland could not hold her own if sb? were separated.

Mr Woodroofe, thought it would bju_ expedient for the Irish to legislate f#B England,-. but Englishmen, would "imm Upon their privileges. The commissioner of Roada and Forests in Ireland, tends over tens of thousands of Irish money lb beantify English! parks. Ireland resembled a'lick nun, and needed careful nursing and medioine.

M.r Park argued that every nation had the inherent right to govern itself. The Irish never (jive up their liberty bntwere sold by a few renegadei. Tho Iriih representatives were ridiculed in the very House, and cleared out when any measure affecting them was brought forward. The Irish jrottld welcome any foo lo England as a.friend. .

•Mr Kay'pointed out that Ireland with four millions. of population returned 105. members to the British. Parliament bpg.thus much more liborally dealt with than England, To grant Home Rule would be dangerous,.

Mr ]R'app thnoght Ireland wonld produce man capable of ci'Vernin? the country, Honie Rule agitation wna in reality a land cry. The land belonged to the people. He eould not blame .the Irislr if' they: did ally themselves tn » foreign enemy. . Mr Hall thought the Irlih lnd ng much right to claim jelf-rule at the Australians and other colonies.

Mr Hogg was himself a Scotchman and always sympathised rwith the Irish. The privileges they claim Are those which colonials in-New Zealand enjoy. The sentiment of every enlightened Englishman w«s that Ireland should have self.

government. Mr Gladstone himsolf would' sanotion it if he could aot independently.' There would never be peace and cnsoli•lition till Home Rule was given. There was more to fear from Ireland than-from-any other Power. The sooner Homo Rule was conceded the better. ■ ' -.Jfr Vile supported the affirmative from; a love of liberty. Ireland should have achance of electing her own Government!" on the same principle as Now. Zealand. -. On the motion of Mr De Castro the 1 debate -wis'-at" this stage, adjourned Jill,, the next meeting night; '