A POINT OF VIEW.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15920, 4 May 1912, Page 10

A POINT OF VIEW.

Colonial people usually have. no I hesitation in saying that Ireland ought to be granted Homo Rule, but their belief, speaking generally, is; based upon a broad principle rather than upon exact knowledge of Irish conditions. • Tho arguments that are advanced by the Unionists leave themunmoved, since they feel instinctively that the crux of the whole matter is the right of the Irish nation to mould its own institutions and control its own affairs. The attitudo is a reasonable one; indeed, it is tho natural result of a close acquaintance with the priceless boon of self-government. The assumption that what is good for New Zealand or Australia will bo good for- Ireland also is fair and logical. But it is always useful to see the real Ireland through colonial eyes, even' when the impression that is recorded is not what tho ardent Homo Kuler would expect. There is a chapter on Irish affairs in Mr Andrew Rutherford's book, " A New Zealand Pastoralist on Tour,'' and though the late member for Hurunui does not commit , -himself to a definite statement of opinion, it is evident that ho has doubts about the soundness of the claims that are put forward by the Nationalists. He complains that Mr Redmond does not advance " a programme to show what he would do if Home Rule obtained." " Ask an Irishman concerning the state of his country," says the New Zealander, '' and he will tell you it is bad, but he thinks it will be better wheiiT;hey get iiome Rule. Ask him in what way Home Rule will benefit the people; ho doesn't know." But Mr Rutherford tells his countrymen that Ireland has drifted into a deplorable condition, Belfast alone being prosperous, and that, though reforms are being effected, the progress is very slow. The gleam of sunshine that he sees is the law which is " putting the more thrifty on tho land on a freehold tenure," and is associated with- a practical scheme for erecting workmen's homes in the rural districts. We suspect Mr Rutherford of attaching an undue amount of importance to the "freehold tenure" part of the arrangement. It is well known that many of the Irish farmers are being compelled, under the land purchase scheme to pay too much for their holdings, and a State lease of the New Zealand typo would give them cheaply the security of tenure that, after all, is their real desire. But in any case tho statemont that the condition of Ireland, after a century of British administration, is deplorable, is in itself a fairly strong confirmation of the justice of tho Nationalist agitation, and tho weight of sentiment that lies behind the demand for Home Rule is undeniable. Mr Rutherford is too shrewd a judge of human nature not to understand Ireland's discontent with the existing conditions.