IRISH PROBLEM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14128, 28 May 1920, Page 5

IRISH PROBLEM.

GOVERNMENT’S TASK. WEAK MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Monday. A deputation of responsible persons interested in the settlement of the Irish problem interviewed the Acting-Chief Secretary (Mr Walter Long) at' the House of Commons. The deputation expressed its belief in the Government’s good intentions, but asked for generous amendments to the Home Rule Bill, whereby fundamental unity would be more clearly asserted.

The speakers were of the opinion that the Irish Parliament should include bicameral Legislatures for both divisions of Ireland, of which, the Upper Houses of each should constitute a Council of Ireland invested with wider and more unreserved powers than at present provided.

They suggested that the amount of the Irish contribution to the Imperial Government be left to the Irish Legislatures, as in the case of the Dominions, and suggested other alterations by which the status of Ireland would more closely resemble that of the Dominions. Mr Long, in replying, showed that the Government’s task was rendered more difficult through lack of criticism, owing to the abstention of the Nationalists and the withdrawal of the Labourites from the House of Commons.

Referring ttf the increase of crime in Ireland, Mr Long said that Irishmen were liable to regard; the concessions to Trish opinion as yielding to the forces of outrage. He undertook to submit the deputation’s proposals t Cabinet.