"MOLLY MAGUIRE SHEBEEN."

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 54, 4 March 1913, Page 5

"MOLLY MAGUIRE SHEBEEN."

IRELAND'S "ALL FOR IRELAND" CRITICISM. LONDON, March 3. A meeting of the All for Ireland League held at Cork on Saturday, adopted • ■with acclamation a resolution moved by Lord Duiiraven (Chairman of the Irish Reform Association), seconded by Mr. O'Brien (Leader of the Independent National iste I, and supported by Mr. Healy, declaring it to be the Government's duty to convene a conference of all parties in the United Kingdom to effect a settlement of the Irish question by formulating a scheme of self-government for Ireland by consent.

Mr. O'Brien described the Home Rule Bill as "rotten, beggarly and unworkable." It would give Ireland not a Grattan parliament, but a "Molly Maguire shebeen.' . The House had left Ireland financially worse off than she was at present.

In the debate on the financial clauses of the Home Rule Bill in committee, Mr O'Brien contended that the deficit of one and a-half millions in the government of Ireland was a myth, the creation of the Treasury experts. He moved a vital amendment to the Government proposals, which brought the Chancellor of the Exchequer to his feet, and he demolished Mr O'Brien's contention, and showed that it would impose an additional burden upon Ireland. Mr O'BrienV following, comprising eight, excluding himself, all drawn from Cork city-and county, thereupon decided to take no further part in the discussion and voting upon the financial clauses of the bill. This decision met with much opposition in Cork. Lord Dunraven, who subscribes liberally to the O'Brienite All For Ireland League, is a Devo-lutioniet, in which he i≤ supported by Lord MacDonneU. Mr Talbot Crcsbie." and other Irish landowners. Mr George \Vyndham, while Chief Secretary for Ireland, espoused their cause, which proved hio undoing, the influence o.f the Ulster Unionist members forcing him from the Cabinet. The conference now proposed by Lord Dunraven is to conciliate that element.

January 16th saw the bill finally passed by the House of Commons and sent to the House of Lords.

The third reading debate was distinguished by great Parliamentary eloquence. Mr. Balfour's denunciation of the measure revealed the great Unionist at his best, while Mr. Asquith's vindicatory speech in reply—marked by the Prime Minister's characteristic brevity —is being classed -with the finest efforts of Mr. •Gladstone.

On .the final division, as the cable has reported, the Government majority for the hill was 110. Only two members of the Liberal party voted against it; all Nationalists and all Labour members voted for it. But no Opposition vote was cast in its favour.

Some had expected a disturbance in the chamber; there was none. Outside Parliament House, and later in Trafalgar iSquare, and in front of the institutional Club, small crowds gathered. According to one set of newspapers, the unimpressive demonstration, was a Unionist fizzle; according to another set, the fizzle belongs to the Home Rulers. On? of the Canadian offices used the opportunity to set up picturesquely in it? window a -placard bearing the words: ■■If you <IoE - i like Home Rule, emigrate with as."'