IRISH FINANCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 9 November 1912, Page 5

IRISH FINANCE

HOME RULE B LL IN THE COMMONS LIBERAL MEMORANDUM. (PrEoS Association. —Copyright.) LONDON. Nov. 8. On the Home Rule Bill the House of Commons has begun the discussion of Irish finance, which will occupy seven sittings. Mr Herbert Samuel. Postmaster -General, in moving the resolutions, said the Irish deficit miist-Sie taken as the dominant factor. It was not consistent with the essence of Hoiik> Rule that the deficit should rest for all time on the British taxpayer: but the burden could not immediately be thrown on Ireland. Therefore it was necessary that nominal increments of revenue shoulu go from the Imperial Exchequer until (he accounts -were balanced. The Bill did not give fiscal autonomy. In no federation did the province involve a central exchequer, and the annual loss therefore in Ireland was different from all federal precedents. Mr Austen Chamberlain said the Government proposal broke every federal precedent. Because Ireland had a deficit it was granted greater powers than the local legislature of any federation. The financial scheme did not heal the old feuds, but opened new ones. Mr William O'Brien said the proposal stripped the Irish of control of five--sixths of their own taxation. Mr Llovd George said England was "•iving nothing- she* had not already given Ireland. It was dishonest to assert that the finding of two millions would finance Home Rule. Mr Bonar Law contrasted New South Wales sacrificing free trade to secure union with England, and the latter sacrificing it. not for union, but disintegration. The resolution was carried by 320 votes to 181, with the aid of the guillotine. A memorandum representing the views of seventy Liberal members of the House is being* circulated at Westminster. It opposes clauses 15 and 16. permitting the Irish Parliament to reduce or increase Customs duties. It argues that this is calculated to lead to Customs barriers, and urges the Government to leave the matter to the unfettered decision of the House.