HOME RULE FOR IRELAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6225, 3 June 1907, Page 7

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND

DISCUSSED' BY UKXYEESITT BTODEKTSf-jJ-At the meeting of the Victoria College,.j Debating Society, held oh Saturday, hyan-' ini?. ■ and presided oror by Mr W. Gray. . president ot the society, a motion ‘That Hume Rule should bo grouted to Ireland’ was moved by Mr E. J. Fitzgibboo. ajjd seconded by Mr F. I’. Kelly. Tile opposition was led by Mr C. 11. Taylor and seconded by Mr, H. E. Evans. The movers of the motion, ip stating their case tor Homo. Eule, urged in the first place the importance of each member of the Empire having the control of its own affairs, in view of . the approach of Imperial Federation. They then proceeded to base Ireland’s claim lor self-government on the inherent right of. every civilised nation to control its own domestic dllairs, and furthermore on the incompetence of England in her. rule of Ireland, supporting the: latter contention by historical references and the authority, of eminent statesmen. They neat dealt •with the charge of a desire for separation and the question of Irish disloyalty, contending that Ireland neither desired, sopmration nor was disloyal to the Empire. From the commercial and economic point of view alone it was in the interests of Ireland to remain within the Empire. The opposers contended that Ireland was never a nation, and that therefore the argument of an inherent right to self-government did; not applv.' The fact that England had wronged Ireland in the past had conferred upon* Ireland only a right’ to legislative concessions at the hands of the Parliament at Westminster. The Imperial Parliament was both willing and better able than Ireland to do what was necessary to restore prosperity. They contended thatsthe legislation of the past ten years went as far" in the direction, of generosity as jnstioo won id allow. They claimed that the present position of Ireland was more honourable to herself than that which the movers demanded, for her. Eleven other members spoke. Mr. P. P. Wehh. who judged the debate, allotted the first five places to Messrs C. H. Tavior, F. P. Kelly, T. Boyce. D. b. Smith, and W. J. Moßldownoy. Mr E. J. Fitzglbbon did not enter for tbe competition. The debate was listened to with intense Interest’ by an audience of about two hundred and fifty persona who crowded into the corridors. The motion, on being put to the meeting, was lost by 24 votes to 26, only members of the society voting. The debate was the beat yet held at the college. The subject of the debate on next Saturday week will bo a motion ’"That it is in the best interests ot Kew Zealand to caelude all coloured’labour."