The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-07-12


assistance to the Labor Party more
tnan once, however, saved the day and
gave the Government a majority of 49,
still 20 below the normal majority. but
better than the SO of the day before.
One of the strongest pleas for single
chamber government came from the
Radical members with Colonial expert
ence, who claimed that II had
worked well when tried in the Domin-
lion. Joseph Martin, former premier
OF British Columbia and member of the
Federal House at Ottawa. was one Of
the most persistent supporters of the
amendment, giving the Canadian prov.
inces as example of the benefits of
single houses
me Unionists supported the amend
ment believing that the Laborites would
do likewise and that the Government
majority would reach near vanishing
point. Arthur Balfour, who although
no longer titula- leader. still often
takes actual lead, spoke on behalf OF
the opposition. The house grew merry
when he, pronounced two-chamber
man, wanted only one for Ireland. He
justified his position, however with
the argument That two chambers were
necessary where great Imperial quesl
tions were considered but not so in
the case Of Legislature which was
meant to do Small subordinate and
local work"
William O'Brien intends to move an
amendment to clause 2 of the bill to
deal with the question of land pur-
chase. His amendment will be in the
exact words used by the late William
e. Gladstone in the bill of 1893. Our
ng three years from the passing of this
act and If Parliament is then sitting
until the end of that session of Parlia-
ment, the Irish legislature shall not
pass an act respecting the relations of
landlord and tenant or the sale pur-
chase, or letting of land generally"
Mr. O'Brien contends that the insertion
of these words would give a substan-
tial assurance that land purchase
would have to be effectively dealt with
within the next three years.
1t is argued by Mr.. O'Brien that Mr.
Gladstone at the now famous confer
ence at Boulogne in 1891, held with a
view to the reunion of the Irish and
Liberal forces, gave a guarantee to
deal with the land question and sub
mitted memorandum in which it was
stated that it would be obviously in
consistent with the concession of
Home Rule to Ireland that the powers
to deal with the laws relating to land
in Ireland should be permanently con-
fined to the Imperial Parliament. It
would have to be exercised simutan-
eously with the establishment of Home
Rule, or within a limited period there
after to be specified in the Home Rule
bill, or the power to deal with 1t must
be committed to the local legislature.
Mr.. Gladstone carried cut his pledge
in 1898 in the words wal h Mr.. O'Brien
now wants inserted in the Home Rule
bill. Premier Asquith, however, after
consultation With Lord Morley, who
Was party to the Bouiogne confer
ence, said Mr.. Gladstone gave this
pledge on the understs ndng that the
late Charles s. Parnell retired from
the leadership of the Irish party, a
condition which was not carried out
The Perm'er added that the Govern
ment was fully alive to the importance
of proceeding with all possible dispatch
with the land purchase settlement.
The reservation of that service was
in a great degree unquestioned the
security on which the future of land
purchase must largely. if not wholly
depend.