COSGRAVE'S OFFER

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 12, 16 January 1933, Page 7

COSGRAVE'S OFFER

TO REDUCE ANNUITIES

BID FOR FARMERS' VOT^

, . LONDON, 14th January^ 'j Mr. "W. T. Cosgrave's offer to makflj a reduction in the land annuities had! a bombshell effect, notably in western: farming areas, where the retention.o* an unfettered British market is a vital issue. ■ ■■':-. The director of Mr. Cosgrave's cam" paign is already, forecasting that, thai party will secure S5 seats against Mr. ; , de Velera's 68. More cautious tipsteraj suggest a Cosgraye ; majority of terij but it is obvious that the Farmers *• Party will replace Labour as holdingp the balance of power. '

An unknown factor is how far th^ poll will bo affected.by the young generation of irresponsible voters swayed! by de Valera's romanticism and hia claim to saving Ireland's honour against: British aggression, but there are unmistakable sighs of a strong, silent pro* treaty vote on the part of those hitherto" indifferent who are now apprehensivaj of the future. .. ■ .

"Don't think this is a political bribej It is nothing of the sort;'-' declared Mr. W. T. Cesgrave at Kildare-last; week in outbidding Mr. E. de Valera for the farmers' vote. He announced that if elected he would remit the land, annuities for November-December, 1932^ June and November-December, 1933,; and June, 1934, the first collecfton'being made in 1934. He considered that tho farmers were unable'to pay more-than; half what they had been paying, ant! said they would not be asked to pay; more^ Negotiations with, Britain would be based on the ability of farmers to; pay also according to the formula toi which Britain, France, and Italy had] already subscribed, and to •which"-hoj hoped Aw erica would ultimately siib< scribe.