IRISH COUNCIL BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13450, 29 May 1907, Page 7

IRISH COUNCIL BILL.

ITS FATE NOT YET DECIDED. . By Telegraph Association.'—Copyright.. :; ' (Received May 28, 9.40 p.m.) ■ ■ ' ;V. London, May 28. •■ Parliament ■ has resumed? its .' sittings. , " , The Prime Minister stated, yesterday in the House of Commons that he would not make :; a statement as to the Government's intentions respecting the Irish Council Bill ;" and other important measures until Monday next. ,"■•'' SIR ANTONY MACDONNELL. (Received May 28, 9.50 p.m.) - -, . London, May 28. ?. It is reported that $ the '; UnderSecretary • for Ireland ' (Sir . Antony Macdonnell) desires ; to retire, and that the Government is trying to persuade him to remain in office. The desire of Sir Antony Macdonnell to retire is doubtless' consequent-upon the re-: jection of 1 the Irish Council Bill by the National Convention in Dublin recently. He was probably largely responsible for the details of iliS measure. He was "borrowed' from the Government of India, in 1902 to be Under-Secretary for Ireland when Mr. Wyndham was Secretary for Ireland. It was known that Sir Antony was a Home Ruler, but it was thought that his great i administrative ability would be ;of 5 service to the Viceroy and the Chief Secretary. ; With the consent of the Viceroy and, so it was stat-» ed, with the knowledge of Mr. Wyndham, he assisted Lord Dunraven-in • the preparation of ; his devolution scheme. The exposure in , 1905 of the connection of the Under-Secretary with this scheme lesultecs in the resignation of Mr. Wyndham under the angry protests of the Unionists, but Sir Antony remained in office; The Irish Council Bill is in some measure part of the devolution scheme, the object of which is to grant Home Rule in instalments. %r,■'• The failure of his scheme to provide a steppingstone to Home Rule means that Sir Antony Macdonnell's ambition to do something for Ireland has been thwarted.