IRISH HOME RULE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 50, 23 February 1912, Page 7

IRISH HOME RULE.

A NATIONALIST BOY SCOUT ORGANISATION. REFORM OF~THE LORDS. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) London, February 21. I Mir Birrell, Secretary for Ireland, in reply to a. question in the House of Commons, admitted the existence of Nationalist Boy Scouts, pledged to work for independence and never to join English armed forces. ■Asked whether he would suppress such'a disloyal organisation, 1 Mr Birrell' replied that he did not think he should begin with the boys.

In reply to a question Colonel Seely stated that the ‘cost of the troops utilised in connection with Mr Churchill’s Belfast speech was £2700. ■Mr Chamberlain declared that the Government were unable to reform the Lords until Home: Rule was passed. He' reminded the Liberals that when they had a majority in 1906, independent of the Irish Party, the Cabinet bound themselves not to present Home Rule.

■Mr Asquith replied that the only definite statement regarding the time of the reform of the House of Lords was that ■they : 'would -carry it - out during 'the present Parliament. Everybody knew that the first rise of tho Parliament Act would be to carry Home Rule. ,■/•■ i London, February 21. ■Mr Asquith continued that the proper time for the reconstruction of the House of Lords was after Ireland had been given freedom to deqf;, with its. own affairs on lines • which > iin the main word adaptable to other parts of the kingdom. It was expedient to delay until they knew the form • constitutional development would take. They would then lib better able to deal with the problem of a second chamber. . He appealed to the House to develop a system for tho self-gov-ernment of Ireland toh broad ' democratic dines.’ • *n ,-4.1

Mr Bonar Law declared that the granting of Home Rule was fraught with danger to two groat democratic power's,-, who would not work side by side without: friction.- The country’s, interests might in war time he fatally endangered. He intended to maintain in Parliament his AlbertHall charges, and an additional one that public meetings in -connection with tire Insurance Bill wore paid for hy' public money. The Liberals, during the , quarter of. a century, had never taken -up Home: Rulo, except when dependent upon the Irish vote. Lord I Ure l said the- question -raised was whether a second chamber would have tile power to force an appeal to the country. The Government declared the House of Commons must be supreme, and would in due time pass a measure establishing a second chamber on an elective basis. Mr Smith’s motion was negatived by 32-b to 231. Sixty Nationalists and also Labourites voted for the Government, two Liberals abstained, and there were 37 pairs.