HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2881, 20 September 1916, Page 7

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

1, MEETING OF PROTEST. • A mass meeting of the Hibernian Society took placo at St. Patrick's Hall on Monday evening, Mr. F. Whitaker presiding. The hall was taxed to its utmost capacity. After the usual routino business had been disposed of, the question of the condition of Ireland at tho present time was discussed. Mr. P. J. O'Regan said that as far as lie could sec Ireland would never get Home Rule from the Asquith Government,, but they would eventually get Homo Rule, for the bulk of the English, Welsh, and Scotch people had a warm alfection for the Irish people. The franchise, however, would have to bo broadened. In the meantime the Irish people were suffering, and their compatriots in Now Zealand would not be. worthy Irishmen if they did not voice a strong protest. Mr. M. J. Reardon appealed to those piosent to make tlieir sympathy practical by raising funds for the purpose of relieving the distress in Dublin, and its vicinity. He suggested that an All-for-Ireland Day be , held, and that all sympathisers donate one day's earnings to the fund.The following resolution's were car-, ried ■unanimously, and it was decided to assist Rev. Archdeacon Dovoy, tho Very Rev. Father O'Oonnell, the Rev. Fathers Hurley and Smith, who on next Sunday would appeal to their respective parishioners for donations, 10 bo remitted to the Archbishop of Dublin, wlio has made au urgent appeal for tho assistance of the distressed: — "That this branch of the. Hibernian Society protests most strongly against the recent action of the British Government in denying tho people of Ireland their right by statute to rule their own country. As the recognised Irish body of the Empire City of the Dominion of New Zealand, we demand that Ireland be immediately raised to the status of an autonomous.Dominion—a position now occupied by Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand; and further, we pledge ourselves as'a body to do everything that is constitutional and use every possible means to force .the Home Government to grant justice to our beloved- country, which lias demonstrated' its loyalty by the sacrifice it has mado of thousands of its sons in tlie present calamitous war." "That this branch of tho Hibernian Society deplores.the excessive punishment meted out to those men who participated in tho recent unfortunato insurrection in Ireland, and views with abhorrence the treatment meted out undor martial law to hundreds of innocent women and children, who have been made suiforing victims foi the part whiohi their male relatives were" suspected to have taken in the recent' troubles." "Wo view with alarm the treatmentmeted out- to hundreds of innocent men who, without trial or jury, aro incarcerated as criminals on the faintest suspicion or whim of the garrison in Ireland. Wo rcquost that simple justice bo granted theso men, and, further, wo demand that martial law in Ireland bo immediately withdrawn.'' "To alleviate the acute distress and misery caused by tho recent riots in Ireland, we take the necessary steps to inaugurate a relief fund to bo remitted to tho Archbishop of Dublin for distribution to the deserving victims."