CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1922, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

4CKTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOO.-TION IRISH CONFERENCE. LONDON, June 7. Hon \V. Churchill held informal conferences with Griffith and O. Higgins. It is understood the Pettigo incident was reviewed. It is expected the full conference will resume to-morrow or Friday.

THE IRISH ELECTIONS. LONDON, June .7. Seventeen pro-Trcaty and seventeen Antis, have been returned unopposed,leaving contests to take place in twenty constituencies, between ninety members of the Collins-De Valera panel and forty-seven independents, labourites, farmers, business and professional rc-prc-entst ives. MORE FIRES. , LONDON, June 7. Incendiaries in Belfast destroyed a large box making factory and public house last night, and five empty houses and a drapery shop this morning. A -MAN SHOT. LONDON, June 7. A gunman shot a 'man named O’Reilly, who was standing at the door of his residence.

IRISH CONSTITUTION. LONDON, June 8. Tlib London “Daily Chronicle’s’’ Dublin correspondent states: SeCrec.V regarding the constitution continues, I understand that it corresponds to iio constitution within the Empire. AH forms followed by other dominions have been rejected. The model chosen for the Irish constitution, on the whole, resembles the constitution of Switzerland but not on its federal side. The new Ireland will be a unified State with nothing t-o correspond to the Swiss cantons, but the Swiss Federal Council principle will he adopted, with certain modifications. The framers of the Irish constitution have decided to eliminate tile , party principle* as far as possible as the influence in determining the personnel of the Government. The “Daily Chronicle” continues: The merit of the Swiss Governmental system, from the Irish viewpoint is that the Ministers will have a security of tenure for the life of the Parliament which has elected them. A hostile vote bv the Parliament does not imply the resignation of the Ministry, but ratliei it means a veto or ait instruction which the Ministers will loyally accept. Ministers are thus expert Administrators in the service of Parliament, all the mem hers of the Trisli Ministry , save the two most prominent ones will not be members of Parliament at all. These two will battle in the Parliamentary arena. The chief Irish constitutional difficulty has been the devising of a Second Chamber which will he a reailv democratic one. and not be a mere replica Of the first Chamber, hut shall represent file perffiniteilt factors in (lie national life. The “Dailv Chronicle” states that i under the Trisli constitution, probably one-third of the Second Chamber will he nominated, and will include religious leaders. The new constitution is as yet only a hasty and imperfect draft, and its Imperial side has not been thoroughly worked out. The tendency, says the paper will he not to insist on too rigid a definition of I flic Imoerial relations. So far as the Constitution Committee nnd tlie Provisional Government are concerned,.the aim seems to lie not to create any embarrassments. hut to find a solution for such, and they are prepared to modify the draft constitution during the negotiations.

TOTAL CANDIDATES. LONDON, June 8

There are 171 candidates contesting the Irish elections in the 20 electorates. Forty-seven candidates are outside the Hail parties.

CA RHINAL LOG HE’S PROTEST. LON HON, June 7. Cardinal Logue, speaking at Dundalk said :—“There was a danger of the

freedom which they had soon slipping from Irishmen. A senseless war was going on on the frontier. There was no reason for two armies to be on the frontier blazing at each other, even it the country were divided. The Allies, he said, were going to Turkey to examine the massacres there. He wished Mr Lloyd George would tin a similar service for the Christians in the North of Ireland. Cardinal Logue said that the Ulster boundary question tvns so serious that even a peasant could not cross the frontier without risking bis hie the schoolboys and the schoolgirls, he said, were carrying revolvers. He added: “1 wish to the Lord that a few strong men would go about carrying birch"rods, and get at these people who are holding up their countrymen wit.i revolvers. I heard of one case of a miscreant of twelve years old. If the puents and Priests do not look out we will have a generation of-young footpads growing up in Ireland. This will he worse even than the massacre in Belfast, which may kill the body, but it cannot kill the soul." CARDINAL HELD UPLONDON, June 8.

Cardinal Logue was motoring from Armagh to Haggardstmvn when a party of the "Specials” held up his ear. Catdinal Logue then demanded to know their authority lot' s ° doing. The loader of the party produced a revolver ami lie said: "This is my authority! Cardinal Logue submitted to the search.

IRISH CONSTITUTION. (Received this day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 8.

To-day’s meeting was confined to experts advisers on both sides, who are examining the details of the Irish Constitution. Several important points were satisfactorily arranged. It probably will he Saturday before the full conference meets.