IRISH HOME RULE BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14912, 10 February 1912, Page 7

IRISH HOME RULE BILL.

OUTLINED BY CHURCHILL. IMPRECATIONS AT BELFAST. TWO SIDES OF A .PICTURE. PROTESTANTS PROTECTED. NATIONALISTS DELIGHTED. By Telegraph.— As«ociati6b.— • ■ ... London, " February 8. The much-discussed speech by Mr. Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty) was delivered in Belfast to-day. The Minister addressed an enormous' gathering on the Celtic football ground. ,When the- Ministerial train reached Belfast it was found that it had been surreptitiously inscribed in blood-red letters, "No Home Rule." The train arrived in pouring rain, land was greeted at the station with an immense volume of mingled booing and cheering. An Orange crowd carried Mr. Churchill's effigy in pall. Lord Londonderry and Sir Edward Carson, Unionist leaders, arc in Belfast taking every precaution to preserve order. , .■■■-.. The huge marquee in which the Minister spoke was surrounded by mounted men and fo itsoldiers, and the bridges dividing the Nationalist and Orange quarters were strongly guarded. i ' Mr, Churchill received a rapturous welcome on rising to, speak. Referring to the Government's Home Rule programme, he said that it was vital that Imperial and National Parliamentary business should be divided. . V

The Government's Bill would fit a general scheme of Parliamentary devolution and an ultimate Imperial Federation. Protestant fears of persecution were groundless, for the Crown would be able to refuse to assent to unjust laws.

The Imperial Government, added Mr. Churchill, would carry out the' land purchase- system and old age pensions. Irish 'representation in the British Parliament would be reduced.-" ".:''':■ ■

MR. REDMOND ACCEPTS. London, February 8. The Leader of the Irish Nationalists, Mr. John Redmond, ;in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Churchill, said, "I accept every word, and. every safeguard." '•''., IMPERIAL POWERS RESERVED. IRISH LEADERS CONSULTED. FROM CURSES TO BLESSING. (Received February 9, 11.20 p.m.) London, February 9. When Mr. Churchill left his hotel in Belfast, a crowd gathered in the, vicinity, and the constabulary had difficulty in clearing a passage for the Minister's car, which was almost overturned. ' The ; crowd uttered fearful menaces and imprecations, and the whole was a grim demonstration of passion. Mr. Churchill showed no [ sign' of flinching, and took the display of hostility very calmly. THE SCENE WAS CHANGED. As he entered the Nationalist quarter, the scene changed, and his reception was most remarkable. Benedictions were showered from the windows, and not a groan was heard anywhere. ■ Effigies of Lord Londonderry and Sir Edward Carson, labelled turncoats" and ''traitors," were hanging at various points. The meeting in the Celtic Park proved peaceful, and the proceedings were tame. Rain fell throughout. •,_*.,,.; At the conclusion of the meeting an enormous crowd of Uistermen awaited Mr. Churchill's return, but the Minister made a detour, went to the railway station and departed for England. The only interruptions at the meeting came from suffragettes. Mr. Churchill said that on the eve of the Home Rule Bill the leaders of Irish public opinion had been consulted, but it would be the British Government's Bill.

RANKING WITH TRAFALGAR. The settlement of the long-stand-ing quarrel between England and Ireland would be a victory worthy to stand with Trafalgar and Waterloo. Every part of the Empire and the United States would applaud it. The efficiency of the Imperial Parliament demanded the division of local and Imperial affairs. The Government recognised that Ireland stood in a different position to other parts of the Kingdom. Measures applicable to Scotland and Wales were not applicable to the needs of Ireland, but the Irish Home Rule plan would consistently fit a general scheme of Parliamentary devolution, and would harmonise with designs of an ultimate federation of the Empire. RELIGION AND FINANCE. The Irish Parliament would be so constituted that both Commons and Senate would be fairly representative ' of Protestants and Catholics, j I of minorities even more than of ! majorities. The religious oppression which the Ulstermen feared would not occur. The Crown had power to refuse its assent to an unjust Bill, and the Imperial Parliament would be able to repeal it, or to enact another law. If the law made by the Irish Parliament transgressed the Home Rule Bill, the Privy Council would declare it void. All military forces remain under imperial control. The Government would not be deterred by financial difficulties, but would give the Irish Parliament real responsibility with regard to fjnaii.c.e,

with reasonably'wide powers of new 'taxation. - Ulster was in no danger of invidious _• taxation. - Home /Rule would not interrupt the ' beneficial process of land \ purchase or old age pensions, and the Irish financial system must be consistent .with the United Kingdom's finances. Ireland's economic dependence upon England was absolute. To talk of separation was vain, idle chatter. "' > He appealed to the Unionists, to the overseas Imperialists, to Ulster itself to win the prize of Irish peace. Let Ulster .fight for reconciliation, and. the -forgiveness of ancient wrongs. Then indeedquoting Lord Randolph Churchill—" Ulster will fight and Ulster will bo right." ME. REDMOND'S SPEECH. Mr. John Redmond, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Churchill, said that the moment the Irish Parliament attempted to abuse its powers by inflicting injustice on men because of the Creed, it would be the bounden duty of the Imperial Parliament to assert its authority. ■-.'-, He believed that anti-Home Rulers were in a minority in Ulster. ; Britain was a great Empire, ; and the Irish Home Rulers desired to come to a settlement with their Protestant countrymen and to take their rightful place in the Empire. Ireland had been a weakness and would remain a weakness of the Empire until her rights were conceded. Belfast was quiet last night. Elaborate police and military precautions were taken ; to prevent rowdyism. Sir Edward Carson, in a letter to the Unionist Council, congratulated the Uistermen on the peaceful termination of: a provocative situation. -..-., OPINIONS OP . THE PRESS. The Times declares that there is general relief that ; a rash experiment • was ; carried out without any serious" result. •"-' The ' paper adds that , Mr. X Churchill's outline ; of the Home Rule Bill is faint and sketchy, and it is apparent that the members of the Government have not made up their minds as to the financial aspect. The omission of refernce to Customs and excise is interpreted to mean that the question is not settled. It is unlikely that the Bill will be introduced before the end of the financial year. The Daily Mail says that. Mr. Churchill's speech was a brilliant rhetorical performance. He proposes to make Ireland prosperous, happy, and loyal, at the English taxpapers' expense. The Daily News says the scheme affords the amplest security to Ulster. ' . ■ The Morning Leader considers the scheme to be safe, simple, and severely businesslike. Tho Chronicle characterises Home Rule as a scandalous extravagance and an example,of over-officialism. i