THE IRISH QUESTION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10960, 1 May 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE IRISH QUESTION.

HOME RULE CONCEDED BUT ARMY

REFORM WITHHELD

DRAWING THE LINE.

The London Express understands on excellent authority that it is very unlikely tliat Ireland will be asked to take any part m the formation of Mr Haldnne's territorial Army. When the Secretary for War outlined his scheme m the House of Commons he intimated that the Government had not yet decided how far the scheme would ap. ply to Ireland. It is now improbable that anything will be decided. The Liberal Government is prepared to grant Ireland a large measure of self-go-vernment^ but is is not prepared to trust her to train her own citizens as soldiers. Though the shelving of the Irish portion of . the Army scheme must be well known to the Irish leaders, no comment has been passed on it m the. House of Commons, and it would seem as though Home Rule were the price of silence on a question which practically amounts to a sluir on the trustworthiness Of Irish citizens as troops. FEAR OF SEDITION. At present Ireland is policed by a heavily armed force. No one is allowed to ■ carry firearms. Rifle clubs are prohibited, and all appeals from loyal Irishmen ior E emission to train as Volunteers have eeri refused because of -the constant fear of sedition, f If Mr. Haldane'a Army Bill as it stands became lav?, Ireland would have the same right as Scotland to furriish its share of territorial soldiers. Ireland has been looking to the present Government for great legislative concessions, and has been practically-Tironiised an extensive measure of Home' Rule. Irishmen who are not politicans now ask : If it is safe to grant the country legis lative independence, what explarialion has tlie. Government for dealing separately with the country m regard' to her territorial forces? Ireland .was not invited to raise volunteer rifle corps m 1858, when the menaces of : French; officers aiid journalists brought about a iriovement 1 which speedily raised the force m this country to nearly 200,000 mea.. . „■-•■ -:■ IRELAND'S VOLUNTEERS. Ireland has^ however, on at least two notable occasions furnished large bodies of Volunteers. Its first regiment was raised m 1779, arid rose by 1781 ' from 20,000 to i 80,000 men who Were required to repel raiders. To the annoyance of the Government, however, these Volunteers took an active share m politics, and succeeded during the four years of their embodiment m obtaining many, wholesome ' ■ I In ,1805 Napoleon was making serious preparations' for an invasion* and 70,000 Msnmeri wer c enrolled into our enormous Volunteer army of nearly half Since theii the Auxiliary forces 1 m Ireland have. always consisted of troops "who, unlike Volunteers;" are subject to military law when serving under arms. At present they consist of two regiments \ ot Yeomanry and twenty-five Militia battalions, which are distributed 1 among tbe various Irish regirnohts.