IRISH ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1932, Page 5

IRISH ELECTIONS

POSITION OF PARTIES. THE LATEST FIGURES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright ) LQ. iriv, Feb. 20. At 3 p.m. the Irish election figures gave the state of Parties as follows: Government fib Republicans 62 Independents 13 Labour 2 DE VALERA’S POLICY. ILRAGELY A LABOUR PROGRAMME. LONDON, Feb. 20. It now seems certain that Mr I'Jamon de Valera will he the head of the largest (Party in the Dail E : rearm. ],t still a question, however, whether Mr de Valera, will be independent of all the other three groups. Mr de Valera said “ The programme .which we intend to introduce is substantially a Labour programme. Therefore, we expect the support of -the Labour Party. We -adhere to our intention of abolishing the oath of allegiance in the Dail.” LABOUR LEADER LOSES. LONDON, Feb. 20. The Labour Leader, Air O'Connell, was defeated for'South Mavo constituency in the Irish Free State elections. MINISTER'S RETURNED. LONDON, Feb. 20, The candidates returned for County (Kerry include two .Ministers, Mr 0 Sullivan. ‘Minister of Education, and Mr Lynch, Minister of Lands and Fisheries. Following are among those elected : ■Dublin (City, North : Airs Collins O'Driscoll (Government). Longford, 'Westmeath: General MacEo i n (G overnmen t). Cork : R. S. Anthony. Tipperary : D. Morrissey. Both Mr Anthony and Mr Morrissey are Independent Labourits, who were erpelled from the Party in October for supporting the Public 'Safety Bill. .IRISH CABINET. i VARIOUS POSSIBILITIES. VIEW OF LEADERS. (Received this day at 9.25 a.m) LONDON, Feb. 21. Labour upholds the Treaty and will agree to no change, except by friendly negotiation with Great Britain. It appears, therefore, on the figures, that Mr Cosgrove, 'if he wishes, would have as good a. chance of coming to an arrangement with Labour ns Air De Valera. One factor 'that becomes increasingly important in view oi the close contest, is the attitude of the Roman Catholic authorities, who are anxious for a calm political atmosphere for the Eucharistic Congress in June. An official announcement say s the state of the Parties at present si:— Fianna Fail 60 Government- 60 Independents and Farmers ... 15 Labour and Independent Labour 9 Alorressey and Anthony, both Independent Labour, were ejected from the (Labour .Party because they supported the Government regarding the Public Safety Act. This vi.ll bring .the number of Independents to seventeen, and all are expected to support Air Cosgrave. Mr De V a leva, interviewed, said he could not set how the proposal to remove theoath wa s likely to lead to difficulty with England. The oath was not obligatory in the Treaty, only by- the Constitution. The alternative to the removal of the math'was likely to lead to difficulty I tried for over a century, and had failed.

"ne propose to govern by ordinary law, and leplaco violence by peaceful efforts towards u complete independence. V\e i ntend 'to withhold the Land Annuities 'lt is too -early -to say if the Free State will be represented at Ottawa, but we are prepared to negotiate trade agreements vi.h England, with whom we de-sire to live peacefully.” The •’unservor” suggests that a strong body of opinion in Ireland favours u National Government, similar to the British, with a -neutral parsonage as President, only essential matters being placed before the Bail. De Valera, is unlikely to accept this

course. ( ( The "Sunday Times’ says’:—‘'We need not be apprehensive, though we should not ignore the dangers, if the oath is -ab-ol shed. (The wisest course will probably be to let the effect operate automatically. Ibe free State wou.d then cease to he. a Dominion. Southern Irelaudmen living in England would become. aliens, and farin' preferences would be forfeited." Mrs Mav .Reynolds, widow of the Government candidate shot on W-h February was adopted a s a candidate for her husband's former constituency. There are thirteen candidates lor seven seats in Sligo, Leitrim Division, in which c.rites-is were postponed on account nl (he shoot.ng. ABSOLUTE MAJORITY UNLIKELY (Received this day at 9.25 a.m) LONDON, February 21. It is now clear that tin* Fianna Fail, although the largest party in the Dail, cannot obtain an absolute majority. II de Valera forms a Government lie must be dependent on the Labour Party, which del lared t bap i| will m* diiire him In shelve purely pnlilieal, and constitutional qliestions.