What was really most important in the speech was Mr.
Chamberlain's reference to the over - representation of Ireland,— a reference which the Lord Chancellor, considering his publicly expressed views on the subject, will hardly relish. After announcing that the Govern- ment intend to alter the rules of procedure so as to make it easier to deal with- the problem of Irish obstruction, Mr. Chamberlain went on:—" But that is not the only Irish question. There is the question daily becoming more im- portant of the representation of Ireland," But if the Govern- ment placed before the nation the question of the representa- tion of Ireland,it is because they think that the present repre- sentation is an abuse and a scandal, and not as a means for dealing with obstruction, for in regard to that it would pro- vide no remedy. The question was not urgent or immediate. "No alteration can be made except in immediate anticipation of a general Dissolution, and we are not contemplating it. But when we get nearer to that time I think we shall ask you whether you think that the Irish representation is so precious to you, is so valuable to national interests, that it is desirable to continue it on a scale which gives to the Irish people a representation which enormously exceeds the proportionate representation of Scotland and of England."
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