The King's Speech

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 15, 12 April 1906, Page 15

The King's Speech

The King's Speech (says the ' Irish Weekly ') contains two paragraphs of special significance to Irishmen. In the forefront of the Ministerial- programme is put an announcement that the Government have under consideration plans for a twofold purpose — first, for improving and effecting economies in the system of -government in Ireland, and second, 'for introducing into that system of government ' means for associating the people with the conduct of Irish affairs.' The exact schemes by which tliese purposes are to be. accomplished are not, of course, revealed. We shall have to wait a short time before we learn by what means the Government propose to improve and economise the administration of Ireland — their first avowed object — and before we learn now the people are to be associated with the conduct of Irish affairs. Since the introduction of Mr.' Gladstone's Home Rule Bills an announcement of this kind has not been foreshadowed in any Ministerial' programme. We cannot suppose that this forecast will be allowed to remain a dead letter.