Jinks In and Out the Dail

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 126, 18 August 1927, Page 11

Jinks In and Out the Dail

SAVING IRISH MINISTRY Was Absentee Spirited Away ? IRELAND S penchant for oddity saved the Cosgrave Government from loss of office in the Irish Free State. When the division was taken on Labour’s motion of no-confidence, all but one of a full muster of the rival parties went into the division lobby. The absentee was John Jinks, of Sligo. His non-appearance on the stroke of political fate saved the Government, and, as might be said literally, caused high jinks both in the galleries,of the Dail and the merry streets of Dublin:

By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 9.5 a.in. LONDON, Wednesday.

Captain Redmond, leader of the National League Party, interviewed, said: “The substantial moral result of the vote is satisfactory. The Government's highly-contentious policies cannot be carried through when its existence depends upon the Speaker’s vote. I do not know why Mr. Jinks was absent. He was surely spirited away as a result of the methods of a century ago.”—A. and N.Z. FAME FOR MR. JINKS “ABSENT BECAUSE NOT PRESENT” LONDON, Wednesday. Although the Speaker is credited with having saved the Cosgrave Ministry, the man whose name will go down in Irish history in connection with the occasion is John Jinks, of Sligo. What happened to Jinks deponent sayeth not. It may be that he abstained from voting from conviction. On the other hand, to use an Irishism, he may have been absent because he could not be present. All that is known to the public is that Jinks should have voted with the other six members of the National League, but did not do so. Had Jinks been present to vote the no-confidence motion would

have been carried and all the Speakers in the world could not have saved Mr. Cosgrave. There was laughter as well as cheers in the gallery when the result of the division was announced. The “Daily Mail” says: “The lastminute defection of one Redmondite saved the Irish Free State Government. The result intensely satisfied the huge crowds in the streets.” The “Mail” says that after Captain Redmond’s speech everybody looked toward Mr. de Valera, but he made no sign, and his followers kept silence. “The Times” says the debate was marked by no heat. All the speeches were completely free from bitterness. —A. and N.Z. TEST OF THE PARTIES By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright DUBLIN, Tuesday. The following is an anlysis of the voting: For the motion:—Labour, 21; Fianna Fail, 43; National League, 6: Independent, 1. Against the motion.—Government Party, 45; Independents, 14; Farmers, 11; non-party, 1. One member of Captain Redmond’s National League Party, Mr. John Jinks, was absent. The President, Mr. W. T. Cosgrave, announced that if the two impending by-elections rendered necessary by the deaths of Mr. Kevin O’Higgins and the Countess of Markievicz resulted in the defeat of the Government candidates the Speaker would call a further meeting of the Dail to review the .situation.

BITTER fighting speech

MR . COSGRAVE IN DEFENCE SOUTHERN IRELAND’S NEEDS By cable- — trees Attooiation. —Copyright LONDON, Tuesday. rPHE most momentous meeting o£ X tie Dail Eireann since the treaty debates in 1921 opened when Mr. Thomas Johnson, the Labour leader, challenged the Cosgrave Ministry. Members attended in large numbers, and during the forenoon gathered in little groups in the lobbies. The whole city was very excited. Parties of Sinn Fein women assembled outside the Parliament Building carrying Union Jacks, on which was inscribed, “This is not the Union Jack, but only an empty formula.’* The public galleries were crowded an hour before the sitting opened. The de Valeraites sat opposite the Government, while Mr. Johnson and the other Labour members occupied the cross-benches facing Mr. Speaker. There were only two questions on the notice paper, and these were quickly answered. A REST NEEDED Mr. Johnson then rose to move that the Executive Council had ceased to retain the conndence of the majority cf the Dail. He said the motion was frankly intended to test the views of the House upon the continuance of the Cosgrave administration. He dedared that the Government had failed in its social and industrial programme. There was poverty, dstress and suffering, which could have been relieved if the Government had made the most of its opportunities, and had been more sympathetic in its administration of existing laws. The confidence which Mr. Cosgrave enjoyed after the election had been diminished through the passage of the Public Safety, Electoral Amendment and Constitution Amendment Acts. All of these measures were not calculated to lead to good government or peace. It was previously claimed that there was no alternative Government available. This was no longer true since the 43 De Valeraites entered the House. This had created a new situation, which should be welcomed. The country needed a rest from turmoil, and it needed a Government excluding from office for a time either of the parties over which there had been such fierce opposition. It also needed party reconstruction and a re-settlement devoted only to national settlement, peace, order and good government, which the parties outside the bitter feud between the Administration and the Fianna Fail could best supply. SECRET AGREEMENTS President Cosgrave, replying, asked it secret agreements were part of Labour’s policy. The public was entitled to know the terms under which a Coalition was to be formed. “We have had an example of the policy of Mr. Johnson,” he continued. “This man of goodwill, when England was in the throes of the general strike, telegraphed offering help to the strikers.” Mr. Cosgrave said the people of Ireland were expecting some constructive and sensible action, and appreciation of responsibility by the Dail. Mr. Johnson’s motion did not offer any solution. The Government’s policy was a balanced Budget, reduction of taxation, the development of Ireland’s resources, and one army. Mr. Cosgrave asked if the proposed Coalitionists intended to tolerate a rival army. The country needed a constructive effort. Mr. Johnson offered none. Mr. Cosgrave concluded in one of the fiercest speeches of his career: "I wonder if the assassins of Kevin O’Higgins will feel easier to-night if the motion is carried.” —A. and N.Z.