HOME RULE. THE VISITING ENVOYS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 86, 12 April 1911, Page 10

HOME RULE. THE VISITING ENVOYS.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR RECEPTION. A meeting of the general committee appointed to arrange for the reception of the Home Rule delegates, due in Wellington on let May, was held at §t. Patrick's Hall, Boulcott-street, last ni^ht. Dr. Cahill presided, and there was a numerous .attendance, including several ladies. Mr. Martin Kennedy reported that he had received a letter from Mr. John Redmond, who stated that the delegates would remain about ten weeks in New | Zealand, and the committee therefore saw its way 'to hold about thirty-five or forty meetings in the Dominion. One of the difficulties was their inability to state which' of the delegates would speak at the different meetings, but lie thought that at most of the important meetings two delegates could speak. They must necessarily allow eack district to select suitable dates, as far as possible. There would, as far as arranged, be about eleven meetings in the Wellington district, five in Canterbury, six on the West Coast, seven in Otago, and one each in Nelson and Blenheim. Others could be added. The Irish party, ho added, needed funds for its Home Rule campaign. Ireland, he added, had lost half its population since he (the speaker) was born, while other countries had doubled their population, and he contended that that was a sufficient reason for taking part in this movement. Mr. J. Burke, on behalf of the Ladies' Committee, reported that at a meeting cttended by about sixty ladies, a committee was set up with Mrs. T. G. Macarthy as . chairman and Miss Kennedy as secretary,: and had initiated a very successful canvass for funds Arrangements had also been made for an "at home" at Mr. Martin Kennedy'o residence to welcome the delegates on. the Tuesday after their arrival. (Ap- j plause.) The arrangements for that function were being carried out by tho ladiea themselves. The" chairffldii bore testimony to the splendid spirit shown by the "ladies in setting np a- committee. On the subject of Home Rule, he said that one of the arguments against Home Rule was, "Why should the wealthy and educated classes of Ireland be handed over to the uneducated and poor Nationalists?" In answer, he said that when the Land Acts of Ireland took the land from the people it fell into the hands of the wealthy. (Applause.) It was sometimes urged that Irishmen would not work together. Sir Horace Plunket, however, had, by his Recess Committee, succeeded in setting Unionists and Catholics sitting "together on the Recess Committee, and what was more remarkable than all, they produced a unanimous rem>rfc and achieved a large measure of local selfgovernment. He hoped — and he knew he was not appealing to them in vain — . to subscribe liberally to the funds of tho National Party, and bond the delegates back to Ireland with material to assist them in their last great fight. (Applause.) The Very Rev. Father O'Shea apologised for the absence of his Grace Archbishop Redwood, but assured the meeting that his Grace was in thorough sympathy with the movement, and would do his best to assure its success. lir furthering the cause- of Home Rule they -were furthering the cause of the Empire, and strengthening the bonds which bound together all parts of.- that great institution. (Applause.) ; Dr. Martin said ho stood there as a semi-Irish , Protestant. Any educated person who ha-d studied the question would say it was a pity that Home Rulo had not been granted to Ireland years and years ago. (Applause.) When in Ireland, many years ago, he found the conditions of the peasants . so itppalling that no one could possibly wonder at their emigrating. He supposed that not one half 6i £he people here knew what the penal Taws meant in Ireland a century -or so ago. The speaker gave some instances of the operation of those lav/s, and went on to say that the Protestant leaders in Belfast had lately published a manifesto in which they stated tliat they had nothing to fear from Home Rule. "If the Boers could be given self-govern-ment, surely it could not be refused to Ireland. (Applause.) M r - P» . J. O'Regan also spoke, expressing his belief that this was the last appeal that would be made by Ireland for help to assist her in gaining her independence. As to the visit of the delegates, he urged that they should get as many meetings as possible. The chairman : We are arranging for forty. (Hear, hear.) Mr. O'Regan said he was very pjcased to hear it. He added that" twenty years ago the House of Commons passed a Home Rule Bill, and but for the House of Lords the country would have been granted Home Rule twenty years ago. He thought they could safely piedict that the great- majority of the people in New Zealand would live to see Homo Rule for Ireland— her loag-de- : Jayed meed of common justice. (ApI plause.) , " r In answer to a question, Mr. Burlie said he had sent out circular letters to various places, soliciting subscriptions, besides which a large number of lists had been distributed among members of the committee.- Altogether, he had sent 'out 'about 1700 lists.' Mr. Martin Kennedy acknowledged the receipt of £1 Is from Mr. P. C Freeth and £5 5s from Mr. Joseph Mandel. L The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.