HOME RULE PROBLEM.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 28, 10 March 1914, Page 7

HOME RULE PROBLEM.

EXCLUSION OF ULSTER.

government! proposals.

POLL TO BE TAKEN.

A SIX YEARS' TRIAL.

By Cable. — Press Association.— Copyright. (Received March 10, 9 a.m.)

LONDON, March 9,

<Mr Asauitn has announced in the House of Commons that the Ulster counties would be allowed to take a poll as to whether they should be excluded for six years. Before that period expired the electors of the United Kingdom would have an opportunity to say whether such exclusion should continue.

•'NOT RUNNING AWAY."

WHAT SETTLEMENT MUST INVOLVE. (Received March 10,10.15 a.m.) LONDON, March 9. The House was crowded and members* Enable to find accommodation on the floor of the Chamber were seated in the galleries;. Great tension prevailed throughout question time, and Mr Asquith, Mr Bonar Law, and Sir Edward Carson received ovations". Mr Asquith arose* amidst great cheering. He said he was offering suggestions which did not mean running away from the original Bill. He, deBired to give the Bill a.start with ' f the greatest measure ,of success. There was a prospect of acute dissatisfaction and civil strife; yet, if the .Bill were Shipwrecked, mutilated, or postponed, )he outlook was equally formidable, j Any settlement therefore must involve the Acceptance of the principle of an Irish Parliament, with special treatment to Ulster, beyond the safeguards provided in the Bill. THREE ALTERNATIVES. Mr Asquith, continuing, said the Government had considered three roads.

First, Home Rule within Home Rule, - which did not commend itself to any of the parties. Second, the inclusion of the whole of Ireland, with the option left to the Ulster counties to recede after a period, but this also possessed fatal drawbacks. Thirdly, the inclusion of Ulster. The • Government had decided that "Ulster be allowed to say'whether it desired exclusion, and a poll of the electors would be taken before the Bill became operative. If exclusion is adopted, the six-yearly period will date froin the first? meeting of Parliament, antl.the term win afford time for a /test of the new Parliament, and the electors 1 of the-. United Kingdom will be able to say whether the exclusion.of Ulster should continue. Meanwhile, Ulster would continue to have represen- _. tation in the Imperial Parliament.

" THE VERY LIMIT."

MR REDMOND OPTIMISTIC.

Mr John Redmond said the Premier ' had gone to the very limit of < concession:. , Long before the. expiry of six years, they would be able to make an exhibition of tolerant government, which would disarm suspicion.

UNIONISTS DISSENT.

OBJECT TO TIME LIMIT. (Received March 10,11.30 a.m.) . Mr Bonar Law demanded that the electors should be consulted; otherwise, the Unionists would be unable to accept the proposals* ".. Sir Edwin Carson said* that if the Government would abolish the time limit he would summon the Ulster Con-, venation to consider the proposals, but not .otherwise. FOE THE FIGHTING FUND. 1 GIFT FROM AUSTRALIA. ''"*'"Press Association. . . • :*:;: March ioi ; advice was .received, thai it was reported in London, on the authority of Pari Grey, that an Ausr traKan resident had given £25,000 to the, Ulster Fund, and Sir S. M'Caughey the,probable donor. v tV On being communicated with,. Earl Grey endorsed the statement, but said he was pledged not to give the donor's name.