THE PREMIER AND SIR ROBERT MONTAGU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 62, 4 July 1874, Page 11

THE PREMIER AND SIR ROBERT MONTAGU.

Iv the leadiag columns of a former issue we drew attention to the expr«Bßioes enunciated by Mr DUraeli in a speech at Buckingham with regrrd to the coercive measures iv operation in Ireland. The annexed extract from the Parliamentary debate on the question, will pretty clearly show the lon* fides of the opinions then volunteered by the Primier. It now lies in the power of Mr Disraeli to prove the sincerity of his words, and to sweep away the " most stringent measures ever in force in Ireland." The tone of tho debate, and the shuffling used to shirk the question, leaves but few in doubt as to what justite Ireland s likely to obtain at the hands of the new Minister : Lord B. Montagu.— l beg to a*k the First Lord of the Treasury whether he wag correctly reported by the ' Times' newspaper to have said at Buckingham this year that Ireland is " being ruled by coercive legislation ot the most severe and most stringent kind. I call it severe ■tfnd stringent legislation because I can find in no coercion acts ever passed for Ireland provuions of so severe a character as I fiud in the existing legislation, and which will go on until the year 1875 " Also whether he was correctly reported to have said at Newport Pa<mell' <• Ireland 13 really governed by tho most stringent coercive acts" that ever yet have "tTsted. Ireland at this moment, I believe, I may say, is governed by these laws, which in severity— l am not sayin* that the soverity-is not necessary— l refrain from entering on any question of that kind— but is governed by Jaws of coercion and stringent severity that do not exist in nny other quarter of globe." And, further, I ask whether he now judges that '-laws of coercion aud stringent severity that do not exist in any other quarter of the globe " are <• necessary " for the government of Ireland by the British Parliament? (Heat .hear ) x

Mr Disraeli.— lt was some time ago that tho observations referred to by the nobls lord were made, and a good deal had happened in the lHtenm. (Laughter.) I have not had an opportunity of seeing the report which appeared in the • Times 1 newspaper since the noble lord gave notice o. his question, but I am perfectly ready to assume, from the general reputation of that journal for its reports, that it is substantially accurate. With regard to the second question, or rather the ultimate question, of the noble lord— whether I now judge that laws of coeciou and stringent severity that do not exist in any other quarter of the globe are nocessary for the government of Ireland by tie British Parliament— tho noble lord will remark that in sayipg f " I believe they are probab'y as necessary in the month of April as in the month of February," I gave no opinion whatever about their necessity, and lam not disposed to give any opinion now. (Laughter.) It appears to me an extremely inconvenient mode for a Government to express its opinions ou a subject of such great importance as that introduced by tbe notice of the noble lord, merely in answer to a question, before moving the orders of the day. (Hear, hear.) Lord It. Montagu.— l wish to ask one further question : Whether the Prime Minister did not think it a part of his duty (Cries of "Oh !" and cheers)— to remove from the legislation of a country anj severity which is unnecessary, and if it is not also his duty to form his opinion on that subject ? (Hear, hear.) ' Mr Disraoli made no response. Mr "Newdegate.— l wish to ask whether it 13 within the under standing upon which questions are permitted to be but in this House that subjects involving the gravest questions of legislation shonld b* thus submitted to her Majesty's Ministers when the House had no ultimate opportunity of expressing its opinion upon them ? The Speaker.— There is nothing out of order in the question submitted by the noble lord. At the same time, the Prime Minister would have been quite ontitled, und, indeed, right, if he had declined to answer a question of that character, as it involvod parliamentary dubate. The noble lord is not out of order in putting the question but ibe Prime Minister would have been quite entitled to docliae to answer it.

Loi-d R. Moatagu.— Allow me to ask tlio Prime Minister whether be deeiiaes to answer the question ? Mr Disraeli miide no roply, and the subjecjj dropped.