STATE OF IRELAND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 441, 25 February 1909, Page 5

STATE OF IRELAND.

4 —-. AMENDMENT TO :ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. "APPAUVINQ, SITUATION." Mil., BIRRELL JUSTIFIES THE ADMINISTRATION. (Nx TEkEGRAFII —PRESS ASSOCIATION—CorI'ttIGJIT.) - (Rec. February 25,-0,37 a.m.) London, February 21. In tho House of Commons a two-days' de-; bate has begun on Earl Percy's amendment; to the Address-in-Reply, deploring tho fact that no effectual efforts have been made to rostor©;the. authority of , ; the law:in' Ireland aud to. protect the elementary , rights' of British subjects. : Earl Percy contended that the trouble' was confined to a comparatively, narrow area, and emphasised the appalling nature of the] situation.- He ashed why tho Estate Com-j missioned had not been instructed to refuse to purchase land where intimidation : prevailed. He urged that the enforcement ofthe. Coercion Act was -nccessary to protect witnesses. ; Sir. Birrell (secretary for'lreland) .strenuously justified the Administration; 'and 'also tho prosecution of cattle-drivers under a statute of Edward 111.,, which,' he olaimed, was an ;exoellent Act for the purpose; 'He' declared ; that cattle-driving was rapidly; decreasing. Ho deplored the. existence of boycotting, which was.' unsuppressable .by the Crimes Act. : He would not oppose a measure dealing. with the use of "firearms, providing it'was made -applicable to the whole .of-the United Kingdom. - The present facts did not warrant the enforcement, of the, Crimes .Act. - Messrs. J. H. Campbell, l ; Redmond,; and S. H. Butcher also spoke. ' . ,