BELFAST UNREST

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8189, 2 August 1912, Page 7

BELFAST UNREST

ANOTHER STRIKE government asked to secure SETTLEMENT. By Telegraph—Preßß Association—Copyright (Received August 1, 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, August 1. A number of workmen and clerks in tbe shipyards have struck at Belfast as a protest against the detention of a number of Catholics who had returned to work. The trustees of the Home Rule fund have contributed £SOO for the relief of distress in Belfast. A meeting of Nationalist M.P.’s, presided over by Mr J. E. Redmond, adopted a resolution calling upon the Government to feecure the peaceful return of those expelled from the shipyards and to punish their assailants and the organisers of the campaign of intimidation. An order issued by the Hibernian Society in Dublin announces the abandonment of the customary parades on August 15th. DEBATE IN COMMONS. UNIONIST LEADER BLAMED FOR . THE TROUBLE. MR ASQUITH'S CUTTING CRITICISM. (Received August 2, 0.35 a.m.) LONDON, August 1. In, the House of Commons yesterday, during a debate on the Irish buppjy Bill, Mr Joseph Devlin (iNationulisi—Belfast West) dtewiued the Belxast luw-breauers us Sir Edward Carson's dupes. lie blamed Mr Bonar Daw’s nienlieim Paiace speech for much of the trouble. Sir Euward Carson replied tnat be would never countenance acts like those at the Belfast shipyards. The main cause of the disturbances was the Home Rule Bill, which had aroused the deepest paseicns. Mr Bonar Law declared that his Blenheim Palace words had been carefully written befo:ehaud, and he .vitmhew nothing from them. The was more serious than any since 1042. “Every member of the Unionist party endorses even- word I uttered. The men ol North-East Ulster will act up to my declarations, and until there is evidence that the Government is supported by the British electorate Home Riue should not be established.” Mr Asquith, Prime Minister, questioned whether any parallel could be found in the speeches of any responsible statesman for the language used at Blenheim Palace. ,The leader of the Opposition now said the minority would be right in icsisting Home Rule by force. What if he were returned to power and an overwhelming majority of the Irish resisted the law and pointed bo Mr Bonar Law’s language for justification!' Mr Bonar Law's doctrine meant an absolute end of parliamentary government. Tne ?rime Minister considered the st eech a declaration of war against constitutional government, and added that he was unable to acquit Mr Bonar Law ot responsibility for the discreditable proceedings at Belfast, and other responsible statesmen for their open incitements to violence.