CONTEMPLATING A GENERAL ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3705, 14 December 1912, Page 7

CONTEMPLATING A GENERAL ELECTION.

GOVERNMENT AFTER HOME . ""RULE.

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT] LONDON, Dec. 12. The House of Commons has completed the committal' of 48 clauses of the Home llulo Bill, guillotining the last six. The House discusses the new clauses and the schedules to-day. An amendment moved by Mr. Herbert Samuel (Postmaster-General) was carried, transferring the Irish post office to l Britain in tiroes of national emergency. The Opposition sharply criticised the Attorney-General’s alteration of the time of meeting of the Irish Parliament. Mr. Bonar Law (Leader of the "Unionists) declared that the Government were contemplating a general election after the Bill had passed, and before it came into operation. Ho characterised it as a wicked proceeding, which was certain "to result in disaster. Mr Asquith (Prime Minister) denied that the Government had any ulterior object.

PASSED THE COMMITTEE STAGE DISCUSSION ON IRELAND’S FLAG.

(Received Dec. 14, 12.50 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 13. The House of ffl Commons, by 266 votes to 166, rejected Mr Hattersley’s clause making the Union Jack the Irish flag. Mr MacVeagh, in a flippant speech, asked why Ireland was forbidden to do what every colony and dominion was allowed to' do? Mr Birrell (Secretary of State for Ireland) said a compulsory flag would not encourage loyalty. Compulsory loyalty was as impossible as compulsory religion, or Greek. Mr Balfour (ex-Leader of the Unionists) denounced Mr MaeVeagh’s ridiculing the Union Jack and recalled the United States insistence' on symbolism in the National flag. Mr Redmond said the Union Jack would fly at Dublin as a symbol of Empire, but alongside would be the green flag as a sign of local nationally, whereof every Irishman was proud. The Bill passed the Committee stage while the Liberals enthusiastically cheered the Premier and the Ministers.