The Waikato Argus. [PUBLISHED DAILY] TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 1914

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 5535, 17 February 1914, Page 2

The Waikato Argus. [PUBLISHED DAILY] TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 1914

HOME RULE. Finality to Home Rule as regards legislation lias been nearly reached. It is, therefore, peculiarly interesting at this stage to consider the posi" tion in which the matter stands. The Government of Ireland Bill will come before the House of Commons this session, and there is not the slightest doubt but that it will pass, and it is equally certain that it will be rejected by the Lords. When it passes the Commons it will come under the operation of the Parliament Act which provides that the King, when this takes place, shall, give his Royal assent. The earliest date on which this can be given to the Government of Ireland Bill is June, 1914. Assuming that this takes place, and that the appointed day be the day fixed in the Bill, subject to alteration by Order-in-Counc.il, it would come into operation as an Act of Parliament on the second Tuesday in February, 1915, The first great step to be taken after the appointed day. must be the reconstitution of the office of Lord Lid tenant of Ireland. Under the provisions of the Irish Government Bill the office of Lord Lieutenant will cease to be a political appointment, and will assume the character of a Governor-General of a Dominion or colony under full responsible Government, The first duty of the Lord Lieutenant will be to send for a statesman clearly designated by the Irish people (o form a Cabinet, or, as it is named in the Bill, "an executive committee," to aid and advise him. The gentleman entrusted with the formation of the Cabinet will have full liberty in the selection of Ministers, subject to the approval of the Lord Lieutenant. Before, however, the formation of an Irish Cabinet, the Departments, especially the Irish Treasury, must be established by the Lord Lieutenant, which means the British Cabinet. This would follow the selection of the 40 members of the Senate, and framing regulations for setting the Parliament in motion. Upon the first meeting of the Irish Parliament the members returned to serve in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and those sitting in that Parliament, shall vacate their Beats. Then 42 members are to be returned from Ireland to the House of Commons.