HOME RULE

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 26

HOME RULE

DEMONSTRATION IN DUBLIN. I LONDON, April 2. At the Dublin demonstration speeches by students were made from the platform at Mr Redmond's meeting, in which they protested against the Union Jack floating from Carlisle Buildings, wherein were the Irish Independent offices. One speaker said : "It is a sorry exhibition for a paper that was founded by Parnell." The Independent states that the flag is flying over the Irish Light's board offices in the same building, and not over the Independent's offices. The Unionists contrast this incident with Mr Redmond's declarations that Home Rule will reconcile Ireland with the Empire. NATIONAL CONVENTION. LONDON, April 3. The National Convention will consider the Home Rule Bill on April 23. PROPOSED SEQUEL TO HOME RULE LONDON, April 4. The Times' parliamentary correspondent declares that the Irish Parliament will have power to vary the Customs rate within defined limits without the power to vary the articles whereon the rate is levied. Irish taxation will be maintained in consonance with the financial system of the kingdom. ALLEGED SEDITION. Mr Will Thorne, Mr Lansbury, and Mr O'Grady have given notice of motion for April 24 calling for the removal of Lord Londonderry, Sir E. Carson, Mr Thomas Andrews, Mr Thomas Sinclair, and Mr John Young from the Privy Oouncillorship of Ireland for treasonable speeches, and of a motion of regret that the Government when prosecuting poor men in England for sedition neglected to prosecute rich men in Ireland. FORECAST OF THE BILL. LONDON, April 6. A newspaper states that the chief points in the Home Rule Bill will be provision for a Council of 48 members, of which 12 will be nominated, and an Assembly of 103 members. Customs and excise will be Imperially controlled for six years, and thereafter the Irish Legislature will control them, subject to perpetual AngloIrish Freetrade. UNIONIST DEMONSTRATION.

LONDON, April 8. Two hundred thousand people will participate in a procession at Belfast on Thursday, including the representatives of 280 Unionist clubs with 150,000 members. Seventy members of the House of Commons will support Mr A. Bonar Law, who will be accompanied by Lord Londonderry, Sir E. Carson, and Mr Long. RIVAL PROPHETS. There- are two forecasts of tho Home Rule Bill published this morning (said the Pall Mail Gazette on February 2), and although they contain points of similarity the differences are striking and fatal to the accuracy of either ono or the other. Tho first appears in the Times, and is supplied by its Parliamentary correspondent, who declares that tho present intentions of tho Government so far as lifiht can be thrown on them, are:— (1) That Irish Customs and Excise shall remain under Imperial control, desijito tho, report of the Financial Committee. (2) That there should be a separate Irish Exchequer, into which the revenue collected from Customs and Excise would bo paid. (3) That very liberal financial provision should bo made by the Imperial Exchequer to meet the difference on the wrong side between Irish revenue and expenditure. Tho idea that tho Irish Exchequer should be started with a lump Bum is now discredited in well-informed circles, and it is expected that the Imperial contribution will take tho double form of an annual grant as well as responsibility for certain Irish changes. (4) That tho Irish Parliament should have power to impose taxation other than Custons and Excise duties. (5) That Irish Land Purchase should remain an Imperial obligation. (6) That there should bo a reduced Irish representation of about 70 members at Westminster. (In the Bill of 1893 it was 80). (7) That tho activities in tho Imperial Parliament should be subject to the limitations of an "In-and-out" clause. It is presumed that Ireland will not be required in present circumstances to make any Imperial contribution. Tho Daily Chronicle's forecast is from " a well-informed correspondent now in Ireiand." who says the measure will he distinguished by the following features: — (1) The r-ew Irivh Parliament to have full control of Customs and Excise. (2) Provisions will he contained in the Bill to ensure ihe continuance of complete free trade between the two countries. (3) Ireland to receive an Imperial subsidy of £2,000,000 per annum for 15 years. This subsidy may bo in the nature of d lump sum, or an annual subvention. (It should bo pointed out. that the British Treasury is already losing £1,350.000 per annum on Ireland: that this deficit is bound to increaso in future years; and that in less than 10 years' time if the present divorce of the Irish people from tho management of Irish affairs were to continue. Ireland would bo run at a loss of £2,500,000 per annum, every ponnv of which would Jiavo to bo found from tho British Exchequer). (4) After the expiry of tho period covered bv the subsidy, Ireland to make a contribution to Imperial expenditure based on a percentage of her revenue.

It is further indicated that the new Irish Parliament will consist of two Houses, a Legislative Council, and a Legislative Assembly, the former with 48 or 60 members, and the latter 105 members: —■ The Irish Second Chamber will have a suspensory vote on legislation. In the, event of a disagreement between the two Houses continuing after a second rejection of a bill by the Council, the bill to be submitted to the, members of the two Houses deliberating and voting together, and to be adopted or rejected according to the. decision of a majority. After the creation of an Irish Parliament, Ireland will continue, to bo represented in the Imperial Parliament, but in greatlv diminished numbers. The n*w Irish Parliament will have no control over Navy, Army, Militia, foreign jolicy, coinage, military camps, dockyards, litrhting of coasts. It will be forbidden to establish or endow any religion, or to impose any disability or" confer any advuntntio or benefit on account of religions belief, or to appropriate any public revenue for religious purposes. The Royal Constabulary wiU bo controlled by the Imperial authorities for I'd years. The most important, of the many important differences is contained in the first paragraphs of the two forecasts. The Times—lrish Daily Chronicle— Customs and Excise The new Irish Parshall remain under liament to have full Imperial control. control of Customs and Excise.