HOME RULE FOR IRELAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3033, 1 May 1912, Page 26

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND

THE FINANCIAL PROVISION'S. LONDON, April 22. The report of the General Council of the Irish County Councils says that the financial clauses of the Home Rule Bill are unsatisfactory, and need drastic amendment. The minimum demand must include Ireland’s retention of all her taxes, subject to a 9 per cent, contribution to Great Britain, and the Irish Parliament must control all the Irish services. The Duke of Devonshire, Lord Middleton, and Earl Kerry addressed an enthusiastic anti-Home Rule demonstration at Cork. April 23. Mr Redmond has received cablegrams from the Archbishops of Sydney and Melbourne and the Bishops in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and New Zealand approving of Home Rule. The Nationalists have invited Mr Gladstone, M.P., to attend the Irish Convention in Dublin to-day. April 24. In the House of Commons Mr Lloyd George announced that the second reading of the Horae Rule Bill would commence on Tuesday and extend over six parliamentary days.

IRISH CONVENTION. APPROVAL OF THE MEASURE. LONDON, April 23. Mr J. E. Redmond presided at the Irish Convention. He said the bill was the greatest and most satisfactory one that had ever been offered them. It implied the disappearance of Dublin Castle, with all its evil and blood-stained traditions. They would be a nation of fools not to accept the bill. He was aware that safeguards against religious ascendancy were unnecessary, but as long as anyone in Ireland had honest doubts concerning this he was ready to accept them. The bill gave Irejand immediate control of nine-tenths of the Irisli services, and eventually the whole. He insisted that the bill’s finance was far better than either of its predecessors. He moved the acceptance of the bill. The Lord Mayor of Cork seconded the motion, which was carried, amid the greatest enthusiasm and the unfurling of the green flag of Ireland simultaneously. April 24. Three thousand people are attending the Irish National Convention, including the delegates of 900 branches of the Irish League, 300 Ancient Hibernians, and 500 priests. Mr Redmond declared that the passionate desire to do justice to the Irish minority had won his approval of the principle of a nominated Senate. He hoped it would include representatives of science, art, and literature. Mr Gladstone had a great reception. The conference decided to leave the question of the amendment of the bill in the hands of a party of three. WELLINGTON, April 23. Mr Martin Kennedy has sent the following cablegram to Mr John Redmond, president of the Convention of all Ireland which is being held in Dublin to consider the Home Rule Bill :—“New Zealand Home Rulers send congratulations on the splendid outcome of your work. Ireland’s great heart can forgive past- oppressions, and she will be enabled through the bill to accept her rightful place in the great Empire to which we are proud to belong.”