HOME RULE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18413, 20 May 1920, Page 5

HOME RULE.

BILL BEFORE HOUSE OF COMMONS. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Router. (Receved May 20/1.25 a.m.) LONDON, May 18. The House of Commons is discussing tho Home Rule Bill. Sir S. J. G. Iloare moved an amendment' establishing a second chamber in tho parliaments of both Southern and Northern Ireland. Air Doug said the Government desired to make its proposals part of .a, federal plan, in which Great Britain and Ireland would participate, the central parliament of which would bo in London. The Government believed that in the federal system the best security lor tho minority would , be found in a central parliament. The Government proposed definitely to accept the principle of a second chamber for each of the two Irish Parliaments, lio emphasised that, the second chamber must, bo so constituted as to provide real protection for tho minority. Mr Long said that, this would involve a great change in tlie structure of the Bill, although tho change was absolutely Consistent with the fundamental principle of tho Bill, namely, tho cstau.uT7.nent of a federal system. He pointed out that very difficult questions must nrst bo considered: for example, whether tho second chamber should be nominated or elected, but he undertook that the Government would later submit a definite scheme. General Seely urged that Mr Long’s proposals should net bo long delayed. Any delay in handling tho Irish question might fatally affect relations with America, also with tho Empire. Sir Edward Carson deprecated mention of America. (Cheers.) It was high time America, or the protended spokesmen for America, learned to understand that we still are a Ghent Power, not subordinate to America or any other Great l’owor. )\o nover meddled with exclusively American questions, even for* electioneering purposes. Bir 8. J. G. Hoare then, withdrew, his amendment.

The Government opposed an amendment by Lord Robert Cecil providing that North Ireland should remain in all respects part of the United Kingdom. The amendment was rejected by 2Uo to 80.

Mr Clynes’s amendment in favour of the deletion of the essential clause; establishing separate Parliaments tor North and South Ireland, was defeated by 223 to 61.