HOME POLITICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1095, 24 February 1893, Page 34

HOME POLITICS.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. (PRESS ASSOCIATION.) New York, February 15. The American and Canadian press receive the Homo Rule Bill cordially, and say that it ought to satisfy Ireland. Berlin, February 15. Tho Vossische Zeitung, referring to the Bill, considers that Mr Gladstone has made a happy solution of the problem. Paris, February 15. Le Temps points to the measure as a great reform. London, February 15. Mr Gladstone has received a large number of telegrams congratulating him on his Home Rule Bill, especially from Wales and Coric. The Irish Times states that the former Home Rule Bill was a failure, and the present one, though modified, is equally vicious. Mr Gladstone, in his reply to Mr Balfour, said the Imperial payments for Irish local purposes would cease and the Land Purchase repayments would be secured. The Duke of Devonshire, speaking at a banquet in (he City, said the Home Rule Bill failed to meet tho Unionist objections regarding the supremacy of the Imperial Parliament and the protection of Ulster. He characterised it as a mongrel Bill, creating confusion and settling nothing. If the measure passed tho House of Commons it should certainly be referred to the country. The Standard asserts that Mr Balfour and his party will vote against the retention of Irish members at Westminster, and that many Radicals will join them. The Irish Unionists are organising, a vigorous campaign in Ulster, and also in the chief Nonconformist centres in England and Scotland. The Marquis of Salisbury has accepted an invitation to visit Belfast. London, February 16. The Radicals are pressing the Government to place a vote on the Estimates for the payment of members. The Premier prefers to proceed by way of a Bill. The Times characterises the suggestion as a bold attempt to transfer the responsibility to the British taxpayer. There was a scene in tho House of Commons to-day, Mr Sexton accusing Viscount Wolmer, member for West Edinburgh, of falsely alleging that the Irish members were paid by the Gladstonians. Viscount Wolmer apologised. On the motion of Mr Sexton, the editor of the Times was ordered to be summoned to the bar of the House for stating that the Payment of Members Bill was to be introduced in order to relieve the financiers of the Liberal Party from the necessity of supporting the clerical contingent, whereby corruption was implied. The House also unanimously agreed that the Times’ article, describing the Irish members of the House of Commons as paid mercenaries, was a breach of privilege. The Dublin Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by Mr J. Morley, Chief Secretary for Ireland, against the decision respecting his refusal to allow the police to protect the sheriffs. London, February 17. Commenting on the action of the House of Commons The Times says ‘As •Viscount Wolmer has apologised, so do we who used his words, bub we repeat that the Irish are paid by the enemies of England.’ The report of the Parnell Commission is quoted to that effect, and The Times concludes by saying ‘Gladstone and his Irish allies have been compelled to resurrect Parliamentary privilege to quell a hostile newspaper.’ The Times strongly protests against the threatened attack on tho freedom of the press,

Lord Randolph Churchill said the Home Rule Bill was a constitutional revolution. There was no adequate cause for it, and the whole measure was grotesque. It would be impossible to conduct the Imperial Government with two separate majorities in the House of Commons. The scheme would allow the Irish members an almost irresistible power of extracting concessions. He felt confident the constituencies, if appealed to, would reject the Bill. London, February 17. No decision has yet been arrived at as to summoning the editor of The Times to the bar of the House. Mr Gladstone and Mr Joseph Chamberlain supported Mr Sexton’s motion to summon the editor of The Times for breach of privilege. Mr Dillon said The Times was conspiring with Mr Balfour to drive the Irish from public life. Lord Randolph Churchill condemns the absence from the Home Rule Bill of provision for the safety of Ulster, which he considers a direct insult to loyal people, who should receive more than sympathy in resisting a Parliament which is unable to compel Ulster to transfer its allegiance. In the course of an interview to-day, Sir Charles Gavan Duffy said the great omission in the Home Rule Bill was the absence of provision for the proper representation of minorities, and it was imperative to afford Unionists a fair number of seats in the Assembly. Mr Labouchere considers the Bill a thoroughly good one, though it would bo better to exclude the Irish members from the Imperial Parliament. The debate in tho House of Commons has not, up to the present, detached any of Mr Gladstone’s supporters. The real issue, however, will be fought out in committee, chiefly on the retention of Irish members at Westminster, finance, and the protection of minorities. In the debate on the Home Rule Bill, Mr Joseph Chamberlain dwelt upon the danger of the Irish taking advantage of England’s emergency in the event of war to extort complete autonomy for Ireland. He ridiculed the retention of Irish members at Westminster, a principle which would prove unworkable. The Bill was read a first time without division, and the second reading was fixed for March 13th. London, February 18. The Home Rule Bill has been circulated. The chief points are as already cabled. Twenty-seven Ulster members will be retained at Westminster, and 15 in the Legislative Council, Dublin. In the House of Commons the Hon E. Blake, M.P. for Longford, formerly Liberal leader in Canada, in speaking on the Home Rule Bill, said it should be accepted by Irishmen all over the world as a settlement of the difficulty. Mr J. Morley, Chief Secretary, closed the debate, and protested against the everlasting distrust of the Irish. Unionist meetings have been arranged to be held at the principal towns in England and Scotland. The Marquis of Salisbury will speak at Belfast on April sbh, and at Derby on April 7th. London, February 17. It i 3 rumoured in Dublin that the P«rnellites and the followers of Justin McCarthy are reconciled. It is stated the Independent and Freeman’s J ournal will amalgamate. Mr Gladstone favours the payment of needy members of Parliament. The Radicals will nob agree to this proposal. London, February 18. The Standard asserts that Mr Gladstone intends to propose that members of the House of Commons nob possessing incomes of L4OO per year shall be entitled on official application to a salary of L3OO. The Radicals oppose any partial scheme, and there is but little prospect of anything being done in the matter this session. London, February 19, In the House of Commons Mr Joseph Chamberlain iu bis speech on the Home Rule Bill said the preamble reverently buries the corpse of supremacy, ,\nd he would prefer to see tho Federation of the United Kingdom. The Macarthyitea are appealing for money by cable to their friends iu Australia. London, February 20. Mr Labouchere, in the House of Commons, has given notice to introduce a Bill providing for the payment of members. Non-sectarian Unionist Clubs are being rapidly formed in the North and other parts of Ireland. Mr Balfour is laid up with influenza. London, February 21. Tho Electoral Registration Bill was introduced to-day in the House of Commons. It abolishes the rating qualification and reduces the residential qualification period to three months. The Hon Mr Balfour, who has been suffering from influenza, is improving in health. The Radicals demand that the Payment of Members Bill shall provide for an honorarium of L3OO per annum, irrespective of private income. (SPECIAL.) London, February 21. The Midlothian Liberals have demanded autonomy for Scotland and are objecting to the retention of the Irish members at Westminster. The Irish in Chicago are responding to Mr Justin McCarthy's appeal for monetary assis cance. The convention in Mid-Tipperary have

selected Mr Hogan, lato of Melbourne, as their candidate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr John Me Carthy. BYE-ELECTIONS. (PRESS association.) London, February 17. For I lie Cirencester seat in the House of Commons, Colonel Master (Conservative) and Mr Lawson (Liberal) have been re-nominated. (SPECIAL.) London, February 18. Messrs Johnstone (Conservative) and R. G. Wilberforcc (Liboral) have been nominated to represent the Horsham seat in the House of Commons, the vacancy for which was caused by the death of Sir W. Barttelot (Conmrvative). (PRESS ASSOCIATION.) London, February 18. The election for the vacant seat at Hexham in the House of Commons took place to-day and resulted as follows : Mr Maclnnes (Liberal), 4804; Mr R. Clayton (Conservative), who was returned at the general election, but unseated on the grounds of corrupt practice, 4358. London, February 20. The following is the result of tho South Meath election Mr Jordon, Macarthyite, 2707 ; Mr Dalton, Parnellito, 2638.