IRELAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13838, 25 February 1909, Page 5

IRELAND.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. Press Associatlnn-By Telegraplt-Copyriglit ' -Received 12.37 a"m.,,,Eeh. 25th. ... ;: ; ; - '"'/' Tii thn 'House of- Commons, a two, days' debate was .begun ,011 Earl Percy's amendment deploring:jibe ■ fact that no effectual efforts had: been made to restore the. authority "of the. law in Ireland and proteeb the elementary rights of subjects. -,.•:'■ -

Earl Percy eonteii'de.d . that. a comparatively ■ narrow area' was aifectod, a lid emphasised the. appalling situation. He asked 'why- the Estate Commissioners had not been in'structed to refuse to purchase .land intimidation prevailed, and urged that a Coercion Act was necessary to protect,'witnesses. * Mr Birrell strcniuiousl.v justified the .administration in Ireland;; and also the prosecutions •' for' caitttoidriving under the Edward HI. statute, . whiclr: he claimed was excellent-for the purpose. He declared that cattle-driving was rapi'dlv decreasing. Her-deplored boycotting, which was unsnppressihle by a particular "Crimes £<-t. He; -would not oppose a measure dealing with freedom, providing it; was. made applicable to the whole of the United Kingdom. The present farts did: not warrant the enforcement of the' Crimes Act.;. Mr J. ;H. and Mr Bntcher..aUo' spoke.