IRISH ELECTIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3695, 24 September 1927, Page 2

IRISH ELECTIONS.

STRENGTH OF PARTIES

Rugby, September 21

The result of the Irish Free State elections is that the Government Party has 61 seats in the new Dail, and the Fianna Fail 57. Farmers and Independents, who, it is assumed, will support the Government on general policy, account for 18 votes. Labour and other small parties, which are expected to support the Fianna Fail, will bring the Opposition strength to 73. Most newspapers express keen disappointment at the inconclusive result of the election, but the “Manchester Guardian” says that, despite appearances and the uncertainty of the immediate future, the foundations of the Irish Free State are more stable to-day than six months ago, when one-third of the inhabitants Still declined to recognise the Free State Constitution or to admit the binding force of the Anglo-Irish settlement, The new Dail is the first that can claim to be a truly representative instrument of Government. Nine-tenths of Republicans have now come within the Constitution and have recognised the binding force of the majority. The “Daily Express” remarks that for the first time in living memory the ejections have been solely dominated by questions concerning the actual administration of Irish affairs.

Mr. Cosgrave and Mr. De Valera have been invited to attend a conference at Cork on Friday, under the auspices of the Harbour Board, to consider the economic position of the country and the question of conciliation and unity of the Irish political parties.