The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1922. THE IRISH EXTREMISTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1922. THE IRISH EXTREMISTS.

The position of affairs in Ireland clearly indicates that the Republican element does not intend to permit, the treaty to be carried out without a determined struggle that will test to the nmost the strength of the various parties concerned. De Valera inaugurated bis campaign against the Free Staters by stating that the Irish Republicans felt themselves no more bound by the treaty than the Nationalists'of a previous generation felt bound by the Act of Union. To all intents and purposes he has thrown down the gauntlet, and is prepared to plunge Ireland into a civil war, the horrors of which are too terrible to contemplate. That is what Mr. Michael Collins (head of the Provisional Government) meant when he said: “The alternative to the treaty, sooner or later, is a reversion to war conditions, and that is the issue I want the people to decide.” There is nothing complicated about such an issue; it is simply one of peace or war—a Free State with stable government, or a Republic with unbridled license under De Valera. Not surprising, under sueh circumstances, is the announcement that “the situation throughout Ireland, not only in Ulster, is of the gravest.” Now, above all other, is the time for the exercise of coolness, tact, and wisdom. An injudicious act may easily precipitate a crisis. The all important question is: Will those who uphold the treaty join hands with Britain in evolving order out of chaos? It is idle to talk of the people deciding this question; the matter can only be settled by the Governments concerned, backed by the representatives of the people who stand for the agreement entered into. Even then a peaceful solution of the problem presents many difficulties, the chief of which concerns the extremists. Unfortunately De Valera and his followers are a law unto themselves, and appear to glory in causing trouble, which seems to them to be the breath of their being. By instituting a lawless campaign against the Free State they have demonstrated beyond all question that they are not concerned for the future welfare of Ireland in the least. They refuse to permit peace and conciliation to have a chance of success, but ere prepared to plunge the country into what can only be a war of extermination. Neither sense nor reason has any part in their attitude; they merely see “red” and act accordingly. It is a situation that may well make loyal hearts quail, and civilisation stand aghast. In the majority of cases where such upheavals have occurred it has been possible for the sane portion of the community to become a -deciding factor in bringing about a settlement, but developments in Ireland have been of an extraordinary nature. These extremists have no reaped for life or property. Effective means should be taken to deal with them. The pity of it is that just as the atmosphere was being cleared of the storm clouds a change of wind brought back the destructive hurricane with renewed force, and there are no signs of abatement perceptible.

this • yield by no means represents the capacity of the province. Now that the value of dairy produce has fallen it becomes a matter of great importance that all dairy farmers should be impressed with the need for eliminating unprofitable cows, testing and culling their herds systematically and replacing with the best butter-fat producers. By so doing they will be enabled to meet lower prices without being embarrassed. Nowhere in New Zealand are conditions more favorable for dairying than in Taranaki, and it would be wise to make the best possible use of such aids to prosperity.