English Parliament

Southland Times, Issue 10968, 20 February 1907, Page 2

English Parliament

TWITTING THE GOVERNMENT., the home rule question. Per United Press Association. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright, LONDON, Fdb. 19, Received 19tiu 10 pjin. Earl Percy (late Foreign Secretary) moved an [amendment regretting that special legislation, which the Government had dec i t red urgent, should be postponed for the purpose of effecting revolutionary changes in Parliamentary control over the United Kingdom and in the constitutional relations of the two Houses. He quoted speeches of Ministers wherein they had pledged themselves at the elections against Home Rule, notably Mr Haldane. He contrasted them with Sir H. Campbell-Banner-man's recent definition of “ the larger policy that makes no difference whatever, in the proper sense of the word, in the solidity of the Empire, that the Irish should have what every self-governing colony has : the power of managing its own affairs." That meant the control of the army, police, judiciary, their own taxes, and Customs. This was Home Rule in a far wider sense than Gladstone’s. If it were the deliberate view of the Government that they were at liberty to introduce legislation pointing to such an ultimate goal, they sat on the Treasury benches under false pretences. Regarding the Lords, the only hint of the Government’s intentions was the suggested limitation by veto for one session. That was a single Chamber in disguise. THEY TWIT BACK. Mr H. H. Asquith, .Chancellor of the Exchequer, twitted tha Opposition with having no inkling of what the Government’s measures were, and yet condemning them beforehand. He rebutted as a slander the charge of false pretences and reiterated his declaration that the dominating issue of the elections was. free trade. Therefore the introduction or passing of Home Rule was a fit question for this Parliament. But he adhered to his si>oech, delivered at Saint Leonards in March, 1902, regarding the extension of local government in Ireland. Mr Asquith, continuing with great deliberation, , declared that if the Government’s schemq contained anything in letter or spirit inconsistent with his declarations, he would instantly' resign, ( Hje added, amid Irish cheers, that if, owing to clumsy taunts about Homo Rule the Government attempted to shelve the Irish question, they bad Indeed sunk lo the lowest depths of cowardice and political dishonesty. BANFFSHIRE BY-ELECTION. LONDON, Feh. 19. Received 19th, 10 p.m. The Banffshire Ity-election to fill (he vacancy caused by Mr A. W. Black being killed in Arbroath railway accident resulted! Waring (Liberal) 3901. Whitelaw) (Unionist) 1892. PERCY’S MOTION LOST. LONDON, Feb. 19. Received 19th, 10.50 p.m. Mr Balfour spoke at length. He asked, if it was intended to give an instalment of Home Rule, why make two bites of a cherry ? He was warmly cheered by his own side for asserting, in reply to one of Mr Asquith's incidental suggestions that ha never directly or indirectly consented to any form of devolution. Mr Uirrell described the House of Lords as a Tory pocket borough. Earl Percy’s motion was negatived by 371 to 111. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman (the ■’render) is absent owing to a severe cold.