HOME RULE BILL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15221, 20 May 1920, Page 3

HOME RULE BILL.

PROPOSALS PART OF A FEDERAL PLAN. REFUSAL TO CUT OUT THE NORTH. (Elec. Tel. Copyright— United Press Assn.) (Australian and N.Z- Cable Association.) IReuier's Telegiam.) LONDON, May 18. In the House of Commons, in the discussion on the Home Rule Bill, Sir g. Hoare moved an amendment establishing a second Chamber in the Parliaments of both Southern and Northern Ireland. Mr. W. Long said that the Government desired to make their proposals a part of a Federal plan in which Great Britain and Ireland should participate, the central Parliament of which would be in London. The Government believed that in. the Federal system the best security for' the minority would be found in a central Parliament. The Government proposed definitely to accept the principle of a second Chamber for each of the two Irish Parliaments. He emphasised that the second Chamber must be so constituted as to provide a real protection for the minority. This would involve a great change in the structure of the Bill, although the change was absolutely consistent with the fundamental principle of the Bill, namely, the establishment of a Federal system. He pointed out that very difficult questions must first be considered ; for example, whether the second Chamber would be nominated or elected, but he undertook that the Government would later submit a definite scheme. Colonel Seely urged that Mr. Long's proposals be not long delayed. Any delay in handling the Irish question might fatally affect relations with America, also with the Empire. Sir Edward Carson deprecated the mention of America. (Cheers.) It was high time that America, or the pretended spokesmen for America, should learn to understand that we are still a great Power, not subordinate to America or to any other great Power. We never meddled with exclusively American, questions, even for election purposes. Sir <S. Hoare then, withdrew his amendment. The Government opposed an amendment by Lord Robert Cecil, providing that North Ireland should remain in all respects a part of the United Kingdom, and the amendment was rejected by 203 votes to €0. Mr. J. B. Clyne's amendment in favor of the deletion of the essential clause to establish separate Parliaments in North and South Ireland was defeated by 213 votes to, 61. • "