16 JULY 1898, Page 2

The Parliamentary feature of the week has been the out-

break of obstruction among a certain section of the Radical Home-rulers, their object being to embarrass the Government in the work of passing the Irish Local Government Bill. Naturally enough, this has led to a good deal of ill-blood with the Irish Members, who are very anxious to secure the safety of the measure. On Wednesday the Speaker, in view of the tactics of the Radical Home-rulers, declared, indeed, that an endeavour was being made to move a series of amendments all raising precisely the same points and supported by the same arguments. In spite, however, of this, the work of obstructing went on, and the friction between the Radical Home- rulers and their former allies became very strongly marked. Mr. Healy carried the war into the enemy's country by hinting that there was a Nonconformist Marriages Bill coming on, which might require a good deal of discussion, while Mr. Redmond made a stately protest against the waste of valuable time, and declared that the Irish people would take note of the action of their friends and allies. Mr. Dillon, meanwhile, only wailed somewhat feebly over this sad scrimmage among friends. On Thursday the debate was resumed, but the firmness of Mr. Balfour and the suspension of the twelve o'clock rule, though it led to a very late sitting, secured the Bill being reported. The quarrel is a very curious one, and may lead to important conseqnences.