HOME RULE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1913, Page 5

HOME RULE.

DEBATE IN THE LORDS.

"NO SEi^.-RELIANCE FOR IRE-

LAND."

[press association.] (Received Jan. 30, 0.25 a.m.)

LONDON, Jan. 29. In the debate on the second reading of the Home Rule Bill in the House of Lords, * Lord. St. Aldwyn said that the Bill did not place the Irish Government in a position of self-reliance. Expenditure was certain to rise while the revenue diminished. It would be utterly impossible to fulfil the roseate Nationalist exj>ectations which, the advent of Home Rule aroused. It would be impossible to raise extra taxation, because the fact that Ireland was already overtaxed had been dinned in every Irishman's ears. Consequently fresh discontent would arise if Ireland were to lose the advantage of Imperial credit and have to pay a higher rate on loans than hitherto. The real reason for the retention of 42 Members at Westminster was that they should act in concert in raiding the British Treasury. Their support would be open at prices corresponding to the British ipovernment's needs. There was the temptation that the Irish Government would not effect economies, or at the least bring nearer financial revision, when Ireland was asked to contribute to Imperial expenditure. The Bill was framed, not to work but to pass. Lord Haldane was as sanguine of the beneficial results of the Bill as Lord St. Aldwyn was pessimistic and gloomy. Sir Edward Grey's Canadian analogy. he said, could not be applied to Ireland. The theory of the Bill was true devolution as distinct from true federation. It was necessary to return representation to Westminster in order to give reality to -the claim of the Imperial Parliament.