HOME RULE BILL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1429, 2 May 1912, Page 5

HOME RULE BILL.

ULSTER'S CO-OPERATION. DUTY TO CO-RELIGIONISTS. BILL BRINGS WAR, NOT PEACE. By TeleeraDh— Prara Association—Copyrleht (Rec. May 1, 9.55 p.m.) London, May 1. The House of Commons, by 233 votes to 117, refused Ml. Harold Smith, member for YVarrington, leave to introduce a Bill to repeal the preamble to tho Parliament Act. Mr. Smith argued that tho promise to reform the Houso of Lords contained therein was unfulfilled; moreover the Government vas taking advantage of the Act to pass Home Rule. There was never a separatist movement. The present demand was moderate. Never before was so little asked, but never before had so many asked. He denied that it involved any naval and military risks. There was no likelihood of divergent views in the event of war. The Bill removed every ground of quarrel. Anything that would ruin England wonld also ruin Ireland. If the Irish deliberately sought to create a deadlook, the Bill provided a remedy. The Imperial Parliament could resume its delegated powers and vindicate the law by force. He strongly appealed for Ulster's co-operation, for it would be o. great disaster to Ireland if Ulstermcn held aloof from tho National Parliament. Ulster had duties equally with rights. The Protestant north had a plain duty to co-religionists in the rest of Ireland and tho overseas Dominions, and to stand by the ship. If Ulsfcermen refused to bring the ship safely into port, they must not be. allowed to obstruct the 6alvago work.

Mr. W. H. Long, member for Strand, said that tho Bill would bring war, not peace. The financial provisions were unsound and dishonest. The Bill made federalism tenfold more difficult. Ho moved its rejection. Mr. Charles Craig, member for Antrim South, declared that he wished to make it perfectly clear that Ulster would resist an Irish Parliament, and if necessary by armed resistance. SECOND READING MOVED. London, April 30. The Hon. Winston Churchill, in moving the second reading of the Home Rule Bill, said the question of Home Rule for Ireland was not comparable in importance to the growing discontent amongst the labouring population. Since Mr. Gladstone took up Home Rule the violence towards Ireland was no more serious than in the labour disputes in Great Britain.