AUSTRALIA AND HOME RULE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13191, 31 May 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIA AND HOME RULE.

«i> ■ THE PETITIONS. /: By Telegraph—Tress Association.—CopytfgM. London*, May 29. Mr. Ruxciman replied to-day on behalf of the Colonial Secretary to a question as to whether, inasmuch as the Commonwealth House of Re- • presentatives' Home Rule motion was printed as a Parliamentary paper, the resolution at a Sydney meeting on the 24th inst., and others - held in repudiation of that motion, would be officially received. He stated that the Secretary of State for the .Colonies was unable to present; to Parliament any resolutions not forwarded by the Governor-General. '|| (Received May 31, 1.5 a.m.) Mklbot;rxe, Mil) 3C. In connection with the Australian petitions against Home Rule mentioned in the cablegrams, Mr. Dcakin says that some controversy took place over the sending of .them ; : :;M?||; through the Governor-General to the Im- t ' { perial authorities. Petitions were.sent to the Governor-General without reference to his Ministers, audi Lord Xorthcotc bad declined to send them. He (Mr. Deakin) had ' thrown out the hint at the time that the '/& petitions might be sent through him, and l that lie would hand them to the Governor- " General, but the hint was not taken. .',''■' '' . ; _____ -3^C^MMM .1 • ...... ...... -...,..;..;,...,,. - The Governor-General (Lord Northcote) •'• some tim» ago refused to receive and forward a petition to the King combating tho decision of the Federal Parliament iu fav- ' our of Home Rule for Ireland. The ground ■ of the. refusal wftt that the petition as drafted was of a controversial character.