THE HOME RULE MEETING

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13393, 23 January 1907, Page 5

THE HOME RULE MEETING

Sir,—l wish to scud you a few lines! expressing my full concurrence with your sub-leader in yesterday's issue relative to the approaching- Home Huh- meeting, over which our excellent. Mayor proposes to preside. I think there are very few men in this city who have a greater regard for the esteemed Mayor of Auckland than 1 have. I have watched his career somewhat, closely during the past, nearly 20 years, and during that long period have Iv-en thrown into intimate business and public relations with him, in all of which he has been most exemplary and wise. Hut. now there is no shadow of a doubt be is about to commit. a very gievous error. The question of Home Rnie for Ireland is one tint fillthe whole British Empire with strife and fierce division. To give effect to it is to enter upon one of the most perilous and dubious experiments with the Empjre that, has been attempted in all its history, and it cannot, then-fore, lx- any part of the duty of the Mavor of this city to set his seal of approval upon a policy so full of danger and grave possibilities. It. should bo the desire of all right-thinking sensible men to establish ii great unity amongst* all our people, and Home Rule means discord, disunion, strife, and very grievous tumble for many years to come. Very earnestly indeed 1 would like His Worship the Mayor, whom we all esteem so much, to reconsider his position very carefully, when, I think, he will see that, he is about to commit tho one. really groat, mistake of his public career. Ireland's Friend.

Sir, —Thanks for your sub-leader in yesterday's Herald. Many, in a way, sympathise with the Irish in their desire, hecause we have Homo Rule in this colony, but there is no analogy. It would lie just a.s reasonable to set up Scotland and Wales <us separate kingdoms; for whatever is said to the contrary, evidently thai, is the object of the agitation. The action of the Dublin Corporation, as reported in yesterday's II KHALI), on the religious question in France, i.s an evidence of tho spirit that prevails, and the power that, is behind it all. The resolution itself, and the ignoring of the Foreign Office, really is an out rageous interference with tin; affairs of j another nation. If a separate kingdom, as i they desire, the- would soon involve themI selves in difficulties with foreign Powers. ' If it wore not for the claims of the North | of Ireland it. would be the best tiling that could happen to the country, religiously I considered, to give them their desire, for j they would soon follow in the wake of ! France, Italy, indeed, we may add, Spain, i in throwing off the supremacy of the Church of Home in Civil affairs, anl maintaining the supremacy of the State. There is now a mighty conflict going on all ovei the world on thai question. There can be no doubt of the ultimate issue. Tin t: Liberty. Sir, — " Irish Catholic," in his letter in | yesterday's llEr.Al.n, says that Premiers I and Mayors should riot, in their official capacity, act as chairmen at Home Rule meeting-'. Why, sir. 1 see no danger in their doing so—to themselves, but quite the reverse; for are not our Premier's chief supporters composed of people of that ilk; and we all know that our Mayor— although not an Irishmanrmwst do some thing to pleasi; the same class of people for mercies to come, if lie wishes to succeed m getting into Parliament at next, election I for The game, they say, is not political, Although at times a little critical. JjATFJJtn.

•Sir, —it was quite refreshing, on opening (lie H)'.i:.\U) yesterday, to read your sub leader on the attitude of His Worship the. Mayor of Auckland towards the Home Rule agitation. With your remarks most Auckland citizens will agree, and, what is more, they will Ik- glad to see hat at, least, one powerful newspaper has grit enough to take Auckland's chief magistrate to task. As a (Wizen of Auckland, a colonial, and a loyal son of the Empire, J. strongly resent t-ho pro posed action <>!' His Worship in taking the chair at Mr. Joseph Devlin's Homo little meeting.— Because he is associating himself as Mayor with a disloyal agitation; (2) lic-cause this agitation is associated with a Church, and so far sectarian; (3) because it is an exceedingly bitter and controversial question ; (4) because it is a libel on British Government: (5) because Hi- Worship's action will compromise the loyal citizens of Auckland • (6) because his action will be boomed at Home for all it. is worth, as the* unanimous sentiment of this city, in favour of Home Rule for Ireland; -(7) because it. "ill, to some extent, discount the loyalty of t his colony at Home, which is one of "our best assets. For these reasons and others His Worship has no business to identify himself with this question of Home Rule, but i honld. maintain an attitude of strict, neutrality. A Loyal Colonial.