IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 52, 25 October 1912, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THE HOME RULE BILL. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) London, October 24. Mr. Waldorf Astor moved an amendment to prevent the Irish Parliaincn legislating to deprive people of their liberty without due legal process. The Prime Minister objected that the limitation would enthrone the judiciary as an ultimate tribunal. Tne very problem w as now being discussed in the United States, whether it was safe for the legislature of a democratic community to work under fetters. A body not responsible to the public was not found in the constitution of any Dominion. Mr. Bonar Law recalled that Mr. Asquith had voted in favour of the amendment in 1893. Mr. Astor’s amendment was defeated by 290 to 197. Clause three was guillotined, shutting out fifty-two amendments. THE INSURANCE ACT. London, October 24. Mr. Lloyd George says that, including extra and tuberculosis treatment, the Government proposed to assure doctors 7s per head of the insured papulation. One shilling and sixpence is to be assigned to drugs, and the extra sixpence assigned to drugs would be added to the remuneration of doctors if the drugs were not required. The exchequer will defray £16,500. if there arc abnormal circumstances the central fund will make a special grant for drugs. Mr. Barr, president of the/ Mcdifc'.rl Association, states that Mr. Lloyd George’s terms form the basis of an agreement, but the problem is hot entirely a monetary one. ’ v ; i “THIS HYBRID MONSTER./’ (Received 25,» 11.40 a.m.) London, October 24. Mr. James Hope’s amendment to clause 4 to bring tbo Irish executive under the .control of the iniperi i! Parliament, was negatived by 280 votes to 190. Mr. Birrell said if tlic Irish Parliament was intended to have a live force and responsibility, it must have exec lift ve control. Mr. Balfour, ridiculing the clause said bo foresaw chaos if (ho executive resigned owing to the Lord Lieutenant exercising the veto. Sir Edward Carson said the Government was not prepared to give the Irish the full rights of a self-governing colony, because it mistrusted then, and because Ireland refused to assume her full financial obligations whereon the rights of every self-governing col oiiy were based. Greatly as 1.0 loathed the Bill, if Ireland must have 'Horne Rule, be would much rather see it work out its own destiny in its 1 K'wn way than this hybrid monster which did not embody any constitution.' if 1 The Right Hon. Sir Rufus Isaacs complained that the'UnionistsUvhrfe mlsisting on safeguards and then refusing thorn. Ho added that-tho'GoV'ertv-.nont was unable to treat Ireland like the self-governing Dominions, because the relations were different.