THE HOME RULE BILL

New Zealand Tablet, 23 July 1914, Page 27

THE HOME RULE BILL

CELEBRATING THE THIRD READING. DEMONSTRATION AT ALBURY. The banquet which was held at Albury last night (says the Timaru Test of July 17) to celebrate the passing of the Home Rule Bill in the House of Commons was a great success in every way. and was attended by about 65 persons, from all parts of the district lying between Timaru and Fairlie. The proceedings throughout were of a most enthusiastic character. Mr. W. Barry presided, and among those present were the Rev. J. 11. G. Chappell, Dr. F. Scanned, and a largo number of prominent citizens of the district. Apologies were received from his Worship the Mayor of Timaru (Mr. E. R. Guinness), Dr. J. Loughnan, and others. After ‘The King’ had been toasted in the usual loyal fashion, Mr, W. Angland rose to propose the toast of the evening, ‘ Ireland the Nation.’ This toast, the speaker said, was the most important one which he had ever been called upon to propose. He thanked the people of Albury and the district for asking him to be present that night to help to honor, as it should be honored, the passing of the Home Rule Bill. The gathering that night was not for the purpose of jeering at those who had opposed the measure, many of whom had been, however, blinded by prejudice, and they hoped that now these same people would help them, and that they would be able to look forward from now on to a united and prosperous Ireland—North, South, East, and West. The meeting that night was not only to celebrate the passing of -the Home Rule Bill, but also to congratulate those who had helped to place Ireland in the proud position she held to-day. In conclusion, Mr. Angland said he wished to congratulate the gallant Irish Party, and their brilliant leader, Mr. Redmond, on the great achievement they had, after years of brilliant statesmanship and generalship, seen accomplishedlreland free, and allowed to manage her own affairs. The Rev. J. 11. Chappell said it was a matter of gratification for him to speak in support of the toast. His mind went back to the visit Mr. Devlin had made to New Zealand, and he was proud that he had at that time occupied a place on the platform at one of his speeches on Home Rule, of which he (the speaker) had always been a champion. He was, he said, glad to stand there that night, and to again be able to say a word for Ireland the Nation, lie had made up his mind (Mr. Chappell concluded) to come to that meeting whatever the weather was, because he felt that there was a bond of sympathy between them. Mr. D. Angland proposed ‘Our Guests.’ It spoke a lot, he said, for those who had braved the elements that night to celebrate the passing of the Home Rule Bill. The Bill would not have nassed if it had not been

for the broad-minded people like those who had come there that night. ... Several speakers replied this toast, after which Mr. J. Wall proposed , the toast of ‘ Those . other than Irishmen who had assisted. in bringing about Homo Rule.’ In doing so, he said there were many of other nationalities who had assisted in bringing about the independence of Ireland, and for this assistance the Irish people would ever be thankful. This was responded to by Messrs. J. S. Rutherford and A. Lindsay. Mr. Guthrie proposed the toast of ‘ The Irishmen of Albury and the Surrounding Districts.’ Mr. Barry, in reply, expressed his thanks to those, especially those who had come long distances to bo present, for their attending the gathering, which was, ho said,, the first function to be held in New Zealand in celebration of the passing of the Homo Rule Bill, a fact of which they might well be proud. Messrs. N. Scanned, J. Smith, and Rice also .spoke in reply to the toast. The chairman proposed the toast of Mr. Rutherford, whom, he said, was the father of Albury. Mr. Rutherford had been chairman of the committee which had taken in hand the visit of the Irish envoys, which had been a great success, and together with Mr. Lindsay, who had acted as secretary, had helped the matter along in a most disinterested manner. Several other toasts were honored, and during the evening a first-class musical programme was gone through.