HOME RULE BILL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8265, 30 October 1912, Page 7

HOME RULE BILL

CLAUSE 5 DISCUSSED RESERVED SERVICES—THE HUSH CONSTABULARY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, October 28. During discussion on Clause o of the Homo Rule Bill in committee in the House of Commons, Sir John B. Lonsdale (Unionist —Mid-Armagh) .said that if tho Government really trusted the Irish, why should it reserve tho control of the constabulary for six years ? Mr Birroll, Chief Secretary for Ireland, said it would be cruel and unfair to saddle the now Government with the organisation of a great body like the constabulary. It would also be harsh to tho constabulary to hand them over suddenly to now masters. Mr Balfour, after Mr Birrell’s explanation, asked; Was tho Government really giving Homo Rule to, say, an Irish Parliament that would bo unable to carry out its duties for six years ? It was illogical, and tho whole measure was an extraordinary piece of legislative insanity. THE SENATE. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION SYSTEM. CONTROL OF CONSTABULARY. (Received October 30, 1 a.m.) LONDON, October 29. The Government is prepared to apply the principal of proportional representation to tho Irish Senate after tho Senate in tho first instance has been established on the nomination of tho Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. In the House of Commons yesterday clauses 5 and 6 of the Horae Rule Bill were passed after the application of the guillotine. Unionists declared that the Nationalists accepted postponement of control of tho constabulary for a sexennium, hoping the Imperial Government would coerce Ulster.

Mr Birrell said the military aspect of the force would gradually disappear. Ho hoped that at tho end of the sexennium they would be able to reduce tho constabulary and then transfer it as n police force.