CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13832, 20 February 1907, Page 5

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

DEBATE IX THE HOUSE OP

COMMONS. HOME BULK FOR IRELAND. THE GOVERNMENT'S "LARGER POLICY." Phis Association—By Telegraph-Copyright. LONODN, February 19. (Received Feb. 19, at 10 p.m.) Tn the House of Commons Earl Percy moVed nil amendment to the Address-in-Ikply regretting that special legislation which the Government declared to be urgent should he postponed for the purpose of effecting revolutionary changes in the parliamentary control over the United Kingdom and in the constitutional relations of tho two Houses. He quoted, front tho speeches of Ministers, in which they had pledged themselves at the. elections against Homo ltnle—notably Mr Haldane "'(Secretary for War). He contrasted these statements with Sir Henry CamphcllHitmierman's recent definition of tho

"larger policy." There was no difference whatever between this definition and tho admission that the Irish should have, what every self-governing colony litis, tho power of managing its own affairs. That meant tlio control hy tho Irish of the army, police, judiciary, anil tixing their own taxes and Customs. This was Home Rule ill a. far wider sense than Mr Gladstone's proposal. If it was the deliberate view of the Government that tliey were at liberty to introduce legislation pointing to such ;m ultimate goal they sat on the treasury benches under false pretences. As regards the House of Lords, tlio, only hint of tho Government's intentions was tlio suggested limitation of the veto to one .session. That meant government by a single chamber in disguise. Mr Aeijuith twitted tho Opposition with having no inkling of what the Government's measures were, vet condemning them beforehand. He rebutted as a slander the charges of false pretences, and reiterated his declaration that the domimiting issue at the elections was Frcetrnde. Therefore, the introduction or passing of a Homo Rule liill was out of the question as far as this Parliament was concerned, but ho adhered to what he said in his speech delivered at St. Leonards iu March, 1902, regarding the extension of local government in Ireland. Mr Asquith, continuing with great deliberation, declared that if tho Government's schcme contained anything in letter or spirit inconsistent with his declarations he would instantly resign. Ho added, amid Irish cheers, that if, owing to clumsy taunts about Homo Rule, the Government attempted to shelve the Irish question, tliey had indeed sunk to the lowest depths of cowardice and political dishonesty.

Mr Balfour spoke at length. He asked if it was intended to give an instalment df Home Itule. Why should they make two bites at a cherry? He was warmly cheered by his own side for asserting, in l reply to one of Mv Asquith's incidental suggestions, that he never directly or indirectly consented to any form oE devolution.

Sir l?irrell (Chief Secretary for Ireland) described the House of Lords as a Tory pocket borough.

Karl Percy's motion was negatived by 374 lo 111. .

Sir Henry Canipboll-Bannerman was absent owing to a severe cold.