HOME POLITICS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9866, 24 March 1893, Page 2

HOME POLITICS

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. (press association.) London, March 22. The Marquis of Salisbury is gradually recovering from his attach of influenza. The Parish Councils Bill has been well received. It allows the compulsory purchase of alletmehtS-, and r'edrganiseS the rural unions da 'district coilncils. The House of Commons has passed Sir John LtibboCk’s motion in, Favour of local option with respect to the hours at which shops should be doted. London, March 22. The sum of L 350,000 has been subscribed in Ulster to the defence fund by nine persons.

Napier, March 23. The opponents of Home Rule in Hawke’s Bay are subscribing to the Ulster fund, and hope to raise L2OO. fcpppfrit. 1 (Received March’23, f p m.) BRItISH-APRICAN AFFAIRS. London, March 22. Mr Gladstone stated in the House that the Government were not prepared at present to settle the Question as to the retentioh of Uganda,, as they were awaiting elucidation on several points. ■The Bill to subsidise the British East Africa Company has been read a second time. (Received March 24, la.m.) .. THE DOOM .OF THE DIRECT VETO. London, March 23. In the House of Commons Mr T. B. Bolitho, member for St Ives, introduced the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors Bill, creating licensing boards and allowing payment of compensation to publicans for loss of license. Sir W. V. Haroourt spoke in support of the measure, and his action in doing so is taken to, indicate that the Government intend to drop the Direct Veto Bill, THE IRISH QUESTION. London, March 23. The Daily Telegraph states that the Loyalists’ Guarantee Defence Fund exceeds one million sterling. A great meeting is to be held at Limerick to protest against the Home Rule Bill, and meetings for similar purposes have been called m many other parts of and also in England.

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE HOME RULE BILL. THE SCENE IN THE HOUSE. (Per San Eras cisco Mail.) (PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, March 23. From early morning the scene around the Palace Sard at Westminster on the day of the introduction of the Home Rule Bill was moot animated. Crowds assembled to witness the arrival of merdbara. At noon tho inner lobby was packed with members, and the approaches were crowded. When the doors were opened there was a disorderly rush for seats, members shouting and straggling like a mob of excursionists. The veteran member, Caleb Wright, was borne down and trampled on, and was with difficulty rescued. While the Premier was speaking there lay on the table the familiar lozenge, a notable item in all bis long speeches. The presence of a lamp to aid his failing sight added pathos to tbs scene. Mr Gladstone started off in a slow measured voice, but his voice, though dear at the start, weakened manifestly. He recovered bis voice somewhat daring tbe peroration, which was remarkably fine and impressive. At tbe oanolaston of the speech) Mr Gladstone was overwhelmed with congratulations. Throughout the time he was spsaklog, Balfour, Gosohen, Chaplin, Bartlett and other prominent members of tbe Opposition listened Intently and took copious notes. . Lord Churchill eat absorbed on the front Opposition benches, stroking bis beard incessantly. Justice Harlan, of tbe United States Supreme Court, In conversation with Mr Gladstone's secretary, declared that tbe entire speech was matchless, and the peroration tbe most beautiful in pathos he had ever beard.

The London correspondent of the New York Tribune telegraphed to bis paper as follows ‘lt was 3.45 p.m. when Mr Gladstone rose to introduce bis second and last Home Rule Bill. At G o’clock ha had finished. He spoke to a sympathetic House and a listening world. He had with him the expectation of a great English party, and tire eager hopes of a majority of the Irieh people. He bad when he entered the House the reception that might have been given a king. The resounding cheers of bis supporters swelled through the chamber as I never beard them before. They rase again In the etme chorus of coming triumph as he began his speech. When he ended there were oteers, but what a contrast to those whioh greeted him Grst. There was still a note oi pirsonai loyalty to the great chief, but the etthusiasm and confidence were audible no more. He spoke fro.n more voluminous notes than I ever saw him use, and his reference wis constant. Yet even with this help he aeitned overtaxed. Ho waa very far from being the Gladstone of other day*. Ho was no: even the Gladstone of earlier days. At the very session his ever youthful bnoyanoy hai vanished, his noble head was bowed, bis fig:re was never qnito ereot, bis face was au ashen white, his voice oamo faintly, often it was impassible to oatoh what be said. When be sank into hia seat not a few of this great audience felt that such a speech ootid only be the prelude to a disaster. Tin Bill is one which a statesman in the prime of hie great powere would need all his povera to carry, and It Is only too plain that All Gladstone’s energy is no longer so spontareoua and irrepressible as of old.’