HOME RULE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143768, 17 April 1912, Page 3

HOME RULE.

SPEECH BY MR. BALFOUR. SOME PROBLEMS OF THE BILL. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, April 16. In the House of Commons, replying to a question, Mr. Asquith said that the Ixish legislature, after three years, might alter the qualification of electors. and the distribution of seats without altering the number of members. Three financial experts who inquired into Anglo-Irish finance found it so utterly unsound that they recommended complete fiscal autonomy and an unusual and au annual subvention of £900,000. The Government was unable to accept the suggestion; therefore tho whole Irish revenue would continue to b© paid into the Imperial exchequer. While the deficit lasted the total transferred annually from the exchequer would be about six millions. This was not a grant, but was derived from Irish trades. The cost oi the reserved services would be about five millions. The money loss thereon at the outset would be two millions. This deficit would disappear in a decade if the present prosperity was maintained. There could be a 10 per cent, variation in Customs, based upon tho system in force in the local Government of France and Germany. Any Increase over 10 per cent, would go to the English exchequer. The Irish executive controlling excise controlled, as a consequence, the Customs on beer and spirits, and also had power to increase the income and death duties and borrow for national development. Mr. Balfour, speaking- to a crowded House, sarcastically paid a tribute to the dexterity of the Government in not consulting the electors. He ridiculed the talk of the supremacy of the Imperial Parliament as a safeguard, and objected to Ireland being regarded as a mere hauger-on of a rich country or as a poor relation. They should view the United Kingdom as a whole, and search too closely whether any part should contribute more than it took from the exchequer. He asked whether the constabulary for which Britain paid would be under British or Irish control, If the former, how could the Irish executive be responsible for law and order? The Prime Minister’s initial federal experiment was lopsided and utterly unworthy of British statesmanship. He did not believe that the English and Scottish members would support an insane federal system divided by Customs barriers, If Ireland could use the Customs against foreigners the Government, would be involved in appalling difficulties, arising from a reversal of a true policy pf national development. Great social communities, he felt, must maintain their position by integration, not by disintegration. Lord Hugh Cecil declared that if Ireland were treated as a separate nationality she could not receive financial aid without dishonour. She would be reduced,from the status of a wife to that of a mistress. He believed that the Protestants were ready to take a share in public life. The trouble was due to Ulster Protestants’ pretensions to ascendency. South Africa realised her place in the Empire by rejecting home rule and adopting a closer union. Mr. Asquith’s lopsided federalism was only a fair-weather constitution. If the Nationalists really believed that Ireland was. a nation they ought not to be content with such a makeshift. He desired to see the Irish as free as England and Scotland to co-operate in the work of the Empire. He declared that she had such freedom under the present system.

Mr. Samuel pointed out that Mr. Balfour in 1906 described the grant of self-government to South Africa as a reckless scheme. He denied that granting home urle had led to separatist tendencies. Autonomy was essential to Imperial unity. After accustoming Ireland to expenditure on an English scale it was indefensible to ask her to find the whole expenditure. The new Parliament, if not assisted, would be faced in the first year with a deficit exceeding onefifth of the whole revenue. At the same time it would be unjust to permanently saddle the British taxpayer. He was convinced that when Ireland was prosperous she would share the burden of the Empire. If the Irish Government was able to economise it could remit any taxes it liked. It was impossible to give her unfettered control of the Customs, as this would be inconsistent with tho Government’s general policy. THE NATIONAL CONVENTION. (Received April 17,'9.5 a.m.) , LONDON, April 16. Mr. Simcox, Lord Mayor of Cork, has resigned, owing to criticisms of his acceptance of the invitation to tho National Convention, contrary to the resolution of the All Fir Ireland League. Tho corporation of Belfast “received” Mr. Devlin’s invitation to send, delegates to the convention. The Lord Mayor declined to receive a motion on the subject. Tho Liberal Unionist Association of Ulster in a manifesto says that the Bill confirms Ulster in its stern resolve against being relegated in any circumstances to control by the Irish Parliament. The latter has unrestricted powers under tho Bill.