AMENDMENTS DEBATED

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 24 October 1912, Page 5

AMENDMENTS DEBATED

8X CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Oct. 23.

The House of Commons, by 328 to 222, rejected an amendment reserving to the British. Parliament the power to maintain English as the sole language ■of the Irish Parliament and the Law Courts. An amendment was also lost preventing the Irish Parliament from disqualifying candidates for public positions on the ground that they did not know Gaelic. A clause was guillotined shutting out 161 amendments on clauses 1 and 2.

Mr Birrell, debating the amendment withholding from the Irish Parliament the power to disestablish any religion, promised to introduce words to secure that the constitutions of religious bodies would not be interfered with, except at the denomination's own desire. The amendment was withdrawn.