HOME RULE BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 26 February 1914, Page 5

HOME RULE BILL.

CABLE NEWS.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).)

MR FALLE'S MOTION.

DEFEATED BY 311 TO 238.

(Received February 25, 2 p.m.) . LNDON, February 24.

In the House of Commons, Mr Bernard Fa lie" (Unionist member for Portsmouth,':, moved: ''That it i<s imperative that tiio Government immediately submit to the House the proposed alterations to the Home Rule Bill." The motion was negatived, the voting being:— Against - 311 For 238 Majority against 73 Mr Asquith, tho Prime Minister, refused to participate in a discussion of the Ulster proposals. PREMIER'S STATEMENT APPROVED. GOVERNMENT WILL NOT YIELD. .SPEECH BY MR BONAR LAW.

(Received Last Night, 10.55 o'clock.) LONDON, February 25.

in the House of Commons, Mr B. G. Falle (Unionist member for Portsmouth) urged that it is rnperotive on the Premier to submit alterations in the Homo Rule Bill without delay.

Mr H. H. Asquith (Prime. Minister) replied that" there was no indication that electorates were adverse and there was no reason for the Government to hoist tho white flag. It was not intended to abandon the Bill or to .yield to the menace of physical force. The Home Rule Bill would be read a second time after the-end of the financial year, before Easter. 'J'ho Government would then explain its proposals. It' was not going to be browbeaten into a course which would embarrass tho prospects of basing Irish self-government on a foundation of consent and goodwill.

Mr Bonar Law (Leader of the Opposition) .said the Premier was still drifting." The- Government could go to the country or exclude Ulster. Ho would regard any other proposal as a declaration of war. The sooner the Government's decision was known the better. .Eor the first time in 250 years one of the great political' parties solemnly declared that it will assist Ulster in resisting the Government. (Cheers and- cries of "shame.") Mr Bonar Law retorted that lie was going to speak frankly. It was the duty of the Unionists, inside and outside Parliament, to make it impossible for the Government to commit a great crime.

Mr \V. O'Brien said the exclusion of Ulster was the one amendment which could not be made.

A motion approving of the Premier's statement was passed by 311 votes to 238.