The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-09-11 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA and HONE RULE.

The following correspondence has been published
by Mr. John Norton, the New South Walos labour
delegate, who has been representing that colony on
the recent Inttrnational Trades Union Congress in
Paris:

To the Right Hon. Wm. Ewart Gladstone, ALP.
Sir,—On leaving Sydney in June last as the delegate
of the Trades and Labour Council of New South
Wales, and of other labour organisations in that and
the sister Colonies, the two congratulatory addresses,
which I have the honour to forward herewith, were
entrusted to me for presentation to you. The first
one is from the Federated Seaman's -Union of
New South Wales, one of the mo,t influential
labour organisations in Australia; and the second one
is from the Democratic Alliance, another powerful
society, having branches in and around Sydney and
in the provinces of New South Wales. Those who
presume to pose in England as representatives of
Australian public opinion frequently grossly mis-
represent it. This has been the case with regard to
the manner in which your efforts on behalf of Ireland
are viewed in Australia. So far from your Irish pro-
posals being unpopular there, it is difficult to conceive
greater favour and enthusiasm being displayed by a
people towards a measure in which they have DO
direct interest than that displsyed by the Australian
public towards your Home Rule Bill. In all the
colonies,but more especially in the colonies of New South
Wales and Victoria, a long series of the largest, most
enthusiastic, and unanimous public meetings ever held
in A ustralia took place in support of that measure. These
meetings were in many cases addressed by the leading
men of the country, including Ministers of the Crown,
members of the local Parliaments, clergy men of all
religious denominations, the members of the Liberal
professions, and private citizens. You have, Sir, fre-
quently received congratulatory cablegrams and
addresses from these meetings, and I am proud to be
the mediam of conveying to you further proofs of tie
admiration and esteem which your efforts on behalf
of Ireland have evoked throughout the length and
breadth of Australia. _ _ .

-- --
In addition to the two addresses, I beg leave to for-
ward you an Australian newspaper containing an ac-
count of an open air meeting held in Melbourne in
favour of your Irish policy, and at which 8000 people
were present; together with an account of another
large and equally unanimous meeting in Hobart, Tas-
mania, which was likewise convened in favour of
Home Rule. .

___., ........._.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) JOHN NORTON.
166, ViTestmiuster-bridge-road.

Sir,—l am much obliged by your offer to transmit
to me the two addresses, representing jointly over
10,000 persons, on behalf of the Irish policy of the
late Administration, which you have received from
Australia. _

I shall receive with high gratiflcation this new
proof of the wise and liberal sentiments entertained
towards the people of Ireland and the true interests
of the British Empire by our fellow-citizens in the
Colonies, as well as by the *hole British race.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your most faithful
servant, (Signed) W. E. GT. ADSTONI4,
£l, Carlton House-terrace, S.W., Aug. 19,