THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1889.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 56, 7 March 1889, Page 4

THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1889.

A significant sign of the change in English public opinion on the subject of Home Rule for Ireland is to be

found in the fact that the " Times " has opened its columns to a Conservative M.P.,who writes suggesting that a mixed committee of the House of Commons should be appointed by both political parties to consider the Home Rule question, with a view to arriving at a settlement of it., This is a symptom of coming surrender on the part of the Tories, and is prophetic of the early triumph of Home Rule principles. It is not improbable that the suggestion made through the columns of the " Times " may be adopted;, as providing an easy way by which the Tories may retire from an untenable position with at least some of the honours of war, and without Joss of amour propre, Mr Gladstone is reported to be in a mood of mind favourable to the project, as he has just declared that he will heartily welcome a settlement of the Irish question, no matter from what quarter it may come. The Tories are credited with having a Home Rule scheme on hand, and, strangely enough, it is from the Liberal Unionists alone that factious opposition to a common understanding is to be feared.

There is room for doubt as to whether Mr Parnell can proceed against the "Times" for recovery of damages for the cruel injury inflicted upon him by the publication of the bogus letters, and the persistent assertion of their genuineness. A cable message has hinted at his taking such action in the English Courts, but it is questionable whether the Parliamentary Commission does not debar him from doing so. Clause 6 of the Bill constituting the Special Commission reads as follows : —

'♦Every person examined as a witness under tbis Act, who, in the opinion of the Commissioners, makes a full aud true disclosure touching all the matters in respect

of which he is. examined, shall bo entitled to receive a certilicate, signed by the Commissioners, stating that the witness has on his examination made a full and ,true disclosure as If any civil or criminal proceeding is at any time there-, after instituted againt any such witness in respect of any matter touching which he has besn so examined, the Court, having cognisance of the case, shall, on proof of the certificate, stay .the proceeding and may in its discretion award to the witness such cost as he may be put to in or by reason of the proceeding."

This appears to give absolute protection to "every person examined as a witness ;" but there is nothing exempting the "Times" newspaper proprietary from proceedings. The individual partners who gave evidence could claim indemnity ; but unless all the partners are examined as witnesses the "Times'' would be 'liable at law for' the gross libels circulated regarding Mr . Parnell and others, and for which they have offered a very inadequate apology. Nor does the clause which we have quoted bear upon proceedings instituted prior to the opening of the Commission, and hut for the defeat of Mr Parnell's Scotch action, apparently, on a technical point, those proceedings could have gone on unaffected by the Commission. Whatever may be the strictly legal aspect of the matter, it seems probable that Mr Parnell will rest content with the great moral victory which he has achieved for himself and for the Home Rule cause, and will refrain from prosecuting the " Times " for damages, trusting to the awakened British public to help him to bear the heavy expenses of the inquiry.