IRISH AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1923, Page 2

IRISH AFFAIRS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. ART O’BRIEN’S APPEAL. LORDS HAVE NO JURISDICTION. TO BE HEARD BEFORE APPEAL COURT. LONDON, May 14 The House of Lords beard argument in tho O’Brien appeal ease. Mr Hastings, for O’Brien, argues that directly the Court decided, as a matter of law, that the detention of Hie applicant was illegal, there could he no appeal. His client would have been discharged before this if it wero not for the fact that the Home Secretary raised the point. Ho was unable v to got O’Brien hack to tho Appeal Court and instead of ordering the dis. charge he ordered the Home Secretary to make a return of tho writ in order that lie would have a further opportunitv to produce the body. There could have been no appeal if the Home Secretary could have produced the body, because the Appeal Court nad decided that O’Brien’s detention was unlawful and he would have been released ami there could have been no appeal under Hie Hab’aes Corpus Act. Their Lordships decided that they had no jurisdiction to hear the appeal. The case therefore takes its courso tie fore the Appeal Court on Wednesday, when Mr Bridgeman produces O’Brien. O’Brien lias reached London.

AN INDEMNITY BILL. LONDON, May 15. 11l the House of Commons to-day, Mr J. Ramsay MacDonald, Leader of the Opposition, referring to the Art O’Brien case, asked what- action tho Government proposed to take with reference to tlic deportees as a body and the introduction of an Indemnity Bill for the Ministers who had made the mistakes. Mr S. Baldwin (Chancellor of the' Exchequer) replied tliat the Government favours the return and release of all the deportees, unless a criminal charge can lie brought against thorn. After Cabinet had considered tho O’Brien decision, it was announced-by the Whips that the earliest suggestion of tile introduction of an Indemnity Bill this week had been abandoned. It- will bo introduced after the recess. It is understood that Mr I\. C. Bridgeman formally tendered his resignation of the Home Secretaryship, but it. was not accepted.