HOME RULE WINS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 79, 1 April 1908, Page 5

HOME RULE WINS.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. MEMBERS AT LOGGEBHXAOS. (By Cable—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, March 31. In the House of Commons last evening Mr. J. E. Redmond (Leader of the Irish party) moved a resolution affirming that the system of government in- Ireland is inefficient, extravagantly costly, and productive of universal discontent and unrest. The only solution of the trouble, he said, -would be to give the Irish legislative and executive control of all purely Irish affairs. He claimed that the resolution -was necessary to free the liberals at the next general election from the unfortunate pledges which debarred a party of convinced Home Rulers from giving effect to their convictions. Ireland would not be content with a half-way hou3e scheme. Mr. Redmond eloquently pleaded the right of the Irish to develop the resources of their country and for power to heal wounds inflicted through class hatred and religious dissension. UNIONIST AMENDMENT. Earl Percy (Conservative member for Kensington South) moved an amendment declaring that if the Imperial Parliament abandoned its undivided responsibility it would injure the prosperity of Ireland and imperil the security of Great Britain; and that therefore the House was unalterably opposed to the creation of an Irish Parliament with a responsible Executive. In the course of his speech he declared that Home Rule was a losing cause, not merely because its advocates were be--coming faint-hearted, but because the new ideal of the closer union of all parts of the Empire was firing the enthusiasm of the British people. There was no doubt which would win now that the success of war and commerce depended on concentration and union. MIMTSTESIAIi SPEECH. Mr* Birrell (Chief Secretary for Ireland) said that Ireland could not wait indefinitely for urgent reforms. Unless there was to be something like hell in Ireland—not murder and crime, but profound discontent, misery, and dislocation of society, something must be done. He believed that affairs in Ireland required Parliament's exclusive attention. Mr. S. H. Butcher on behalf of the I Protestant minority declared that Home Rule would be not simply a political experiment, but a desperate gamble with Imperial interests. SOME FIRE-EATING. Mr. G. Clark caused a scene by applying the epithet of "ignorant, lazy peasantry" to the people of the West of Ireland. Mr. John O'Connor (Nationalist member for Kildare North) challenged Mr.» Clark to repeat the words outside, and called him a"coward" and a "cad." The Deputy-Speaker (Mr. Alfred Emmott) named Mr. O'Connor, when he refused to withdraw. Mr. O'Connor then, amid cheers from the Irish party, left J the House. . '" -• Mr. Balfour denied the analogy claimed by some speakers between Ireland and the self-governing colonies, and reminded the House that the political process between countries in modern times had been one of integration, not of disintegration. CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER. Mr. Asquith affirmed that he strongly favoured self-government in Ireland in regard to purely local affairs, but would be unable to vote for the motion because it contained no explicit recognition of the continued paramount supremacy of the Imperial Parliament. Besides, the party could not proceed with Home Rule during the lifetime of the present Parliament. He intended to vote against the amendment because it was a barren negation. Mr. Timothy Healy (Nationlist mem~ iber for Louth North) violently attacked Mr. Asquith. DIVISION ON THE MOTION. The amendment was then put and rejected, the voting being as follows: — For the amendment .... 142 Against the amendment 334 On the resolution then being submitted Mr. J. A. Simons (Liberal member for the Walthamstow Division of Essex) moved to add the words, "That a Home Rule Parliament must be subject to the supreme authority of the Imperial Parliament," and in this form Mr. Redmond's resolution was carried, the voting being:— For the resolution 315 Against the resolution .. 157 Majority 15S