FREE STATE POLITICS

Evening Star, Issue 20138, 1 April 1929, Page 10

FREE STATE POLITICS

A SURVEY OF THE PARTIES There is room for much speculation about the development of political parties in tho Free State. In tho Dail tho Government party with sixty-one deputies has been facing Fianna Fail with fifty-six for more than a year. Though the Government always counts cm the support of fifteen Fanners and Independents Fianna Fail with a very little care can secure tho assistance of an equal number of Independents or Labour men in any attack. There aro many subjects, notably tariffs, on which a wing of tho Government’s supporters agree with Fianna Fail rather than with the Cabinet. It therefore seems strange that Mr Do Valera has never y-t succeeded in giving the Cabinet an anxious moment. At first lack of parliamentary experience was probably the true explanation of the ineffectiveness of Fianna Fail. To-day Air Do Valera 1 and his lieutenants have gained some ' parliamentary experience. But along with this experience they have also acquired an insight into the difficulties i of the practical work of administraI tion, , vvitii the result that they aro 1 now by no means in love with the pros- • jK-ct of office. They remember rash tilings they said about tearing up the treaty, the Constitution, tho boundary settlement, and they do not look fori ward to being asked by their enemies tho uncompromising Republicans why they are not getting on with these enterprises. They remember, too, certain pronouncements about its being the duty of a civilised Government to find work for all, and about a loan of ten i millions for the construction of houses. : Then there was tho encouragement given to the advocates of a reckless tariff policy, and to the long-sighted gentlemen who wished to insure I against the dangers of a'world war by a. subsidy on wheat-growing. Besides, there was I a Ik of an all-round reduction on official salaries. Lastly, there was, and is, the very ugly controversy , about the annuities, amounting to three ' millions per annum, which are being 1 collected from the Free State farmers I and remitted to the British Treasury in payment of the money advanced to buy out the landlords. Various legal and moral pleas have been advanced to suggest that this debt should not be recognised, and under strong pressure Mr Do Valera lias almost committed* himiielf to withholding payment. But i lie and Ills financial advisers must be ' aware that not only tho morality but also the expediency of such a policy j is exceedingly questionable. Then a ' vear’s experience in tho Dail has taught them that the goodwill of the Civil Service is necessary to the success of a Cabinet and will not bo ensured by an all-round reduction in salaries. Ah Blythe has convinced them that the I Budget cannot be balanced without care and caution, and that money cannot be borrowed unless the Budget is balanced Mr Hogan lias induced them to reflect whether it is not wise to leach the farmers to produce good butter which is dear rather than bribe them to grow bad wheat which is cheap. Again, tho extreme caution which the enterprising Air AFGiiligan j displays in dealing with tariffs and unemployment has impressed them with the belief that dangers lie re await the I unwary. Hence Fianna Fail is now disI playing a commendabiy pacific and docile spirit, and President Gosgrave has J accordingly been tempted to try a bold 1 and interesting He has | seized upon a suggestion put forward by Air Do Valera and appointed an All , Parties Committee to inquire into tho economic and financial condition of tho Free State and to recommend inea- ’ suros for its improvement. Tho personnel of the committee is very _ rej markable. There are three Cabinet j Ministers, Blythe, Hogan, and APGilliI gam and two of the Opposi- | lion—Do Valera and Lcmuss— together

■with Dr Ryan, Fianna Fail’s agricultural expert Then there are two Labour and two Independent deputies, and a professor of economics. Jt is hard to believe that such a committee can possibly agree on any original recommendations. The intention, apparently, is to complete the financial and economic education of'Dianna Fail and to induce De Valera, to adopt a benevolent attitude to the Government's new Budget, for, as Mr Blythe lias pointed out, the Government are finding some difficulty in balancing the Budget. Not that the Free State’s economic position is unsound. The debt is small and trade is improving. But the remission of income tax allowed in 11)27 went beyond what the financial situation warranted, and there is a con.stnnt demand for increased expenditure on education, health, and oilier public services. So the next Budget cannot be a popular one, and llm Government no doubt desire that Mi De Valera should thoroughly understand' that il he attacks their ‘proposals ho must he prepared to take office and face, the situation himself If Mr Do Valera abstains from, attacking the Government’s Budget in earnest after this opportunity of investigating the economic and financial condition of the Free Stato_ it will be manifest that Fianna Fail is now divided from the Government Party by nothing hut the quarrel between the leaders over the dead issue of the treaty. The Government’s economic policy lias aimed mainly at encouraging and assisting the capitalist and the substantial fanner, trusting that they in their turn will _ help the wageearner. Fianna Fail depends chiefly on the votes of the men and women of no property, and at first sight it would seem that Mi - De Valera might easily develop an Irish Ireland economic policy aimed at benefiting the small fanners and the wage-earners more directly. By doing so ho might attract one wing of the_ Government Party and please a few industrialists, but he would almost certainly alarm sonic of the few property owners who support Fianna. Fail, and thus the problem of party finance would grow more difficult than over. Moreover, Mr Do Valera seems to have little confidence in his ability to handle economic questions. It is therefore unlikely that he will take a bold line. Jf he hesitates to challenge the Government there would appear to be a chance for the Irish Labour Party, but it is split. It is therefore unlikely that the split will be healed, and so long as it lasts no Labour candidate can count on success at a general election. The disappearance of the Labour members from the Dail would be a serious loss. In the past they have shown themselves well above the average of the deputies in knowledge and industry, and in respect, for constitutional and human rights, and they approach most problems from a distinctive and a helpful point of view. It is possible that they may now attempt to cut loose from their connection with the trade unions and to resolve themselves into a democratic party with Johnson’s old Socialistic programme. Had they funds at their disposal they might under P.R. attract sufficient support to form a useful group in the Dail. but it is not easy to see how they can he financed if the supplies received from the unions arc

cut off. Thus wo see a party which has a programme perishing, while Fianna Fail, which has no programme, will apparently continue, to exist by virtue of men’s interest in old quarrels and romantic personalities. As for the Government Party, like Fianna Fail, it owes its origin to the treaty issue, which is now dead. It is becoming more and more definitely a. party of property, but it has not yet shed’ all the Irish Irelandors who supported the treaty, and its policy is still influenced by their presence. The Catholic Church remains in the background, but its name Jins been used in attacks on the “ free-thinking ” leaders of the Irish Labour Party. This fact, together with the outcry about the. failure to impress a religions character upon the new Free State coinage and the progress of the Censorship Bill, suggests that in normal times no party can afford to risk its displeasure. Some of its leaders have recently denounced very vigorously the immorality of the proposal to _ withold payment of the land annuities, and Fianna Fail may consequently he persuaded to reject one of the few remaining planks in its very rickety platform.—‘ Manchester Guardian.’