HOME RULE QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13055, 21 December 1905, Page 5

HOME RULE QUESTION.

LIBERAL POSITION

DEFINED.

ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM. By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright.

. (Received December 20, 9.42 p.m.) . London, December 20. The Hon. Arthur Ponsonby, private secretary to Sir H. Campbell-' Barinerman, is a candidate for Taunton. Addressing the electors yesterday, he said that Home Rule as introduced in 1886 and in 1892 was dead, and that no one he had met in the Liberal party favoured either Bill.

Mr. Asquith, speaking' in Queen's Hall yesterday, emphatically denied that Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman would covertly pursue a policy leading to the separation of Ireland from England and dismemberment of the Empire. A Liberal majority would be resolutely determined to maintain the paramount authority of the Imperial Parliament, but within those limits it would seek to improve and liberalise the administration of Ireland. He concluded by appealing for a united, strong, and independent majority for the Liberals in Parliament.

The Home Rule Bill of 1892 provided for a Legislative Council and an Assembly, with power to deal with matters relating exclusively to Ireland. ; The Parliament was excluded from dealing with, religious matters. The Assembly was to consist of 103 members and the Council of-48. There were to bo 80 members in the House of Commons. One-third of the general revenue of Ireland was to be paid into the Imperial Treasury as the contribution of Ireland to Imperial liabilities and expenditures. This financial scheme was to last for six years, after which a new scheme of tax division was to bo devised. The Bill was passed in the House of Commons by 301 to 267, and defeated in the House of Lords by 409 to 41. Speaking at Stirling on November 23, Sir H. Campbell-Banner-man said that, personally, he desired to see established the effective management _of Irish domestic affairs by a representative Irish authority. The Nationalists, however, had better take an instalment leading up to the larger policy.