IRISH ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1922, Page 5

IRISH ELECTION.

MOST SLATS CONTESTED. DE VALERA NOT OPPOSED. MANY INDEPENDENTS, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received June 7, 5.5 p.m. London, June G. Mr. Collins and Mr. do Valera have issued an appeal deprecating the electoral contests, which are bound to engender bitterness and discord at a time when the unity which the Collins-de Valera pact intended to promote is essential. They are evidently surprised at the growing number of candidates in nominal opposition to their nominees by the Farmers’ Union, the Labor Party and other organisations. Over forty such candidates have now been selected, necessitating contests in twenty of the twenty-seven constituencies. The nominations show that with the exception of Mr. de Valera and three others every Dail leader for or against the treaty has to go to the poll. Owing to the withdrawal of four Independents, Mr. de Valera secured a walk-over in County Clare. Thirty of the present Dailites have been re-elected in six uncontested constituencies. In the nomination for Dublin City, besides the Coalition panel candidates, seven Independents, representing Labor, business, and professional interests, have been nominated, but contrary to expectations, Mr. James Larkin has not .-been proposed. Eight have been nominated for the seven Galway seats, four pro-treaty, two anti’s, and two Labor. Eight candidates other than the panel have been nominated for the city of Cork and the county of Cork, thereby causing something of a sensation. Cork City is entitled to the representation of four and opposition to the panel four, including Mr. Walsh (Postmaster-General) and Miss MacSweeney, was not expected, but the commercial community submitted Mr. Beamish, a prominent, brewer, and Mr. Daly, chairman of the Cork Harbor Commissioners, whose return is regarded as certain. Cork County returns eleven members, but the opposition, is less formidable. The out-going members number only four pro-treaty, but the majority of the people favour the treaty. The Farmers’ Union have nominated three and the Labor Party two. At the request of the panel representatives one of the farmers’ nominees, who is a Sinn Feiner and pro-treaty, withdrew, but the others declined. A feature of the Irish nominations has been the number of eleventh hour withdrawals, leaving fhe Coalition panel candidates unchallenged. Contests are taking place in Mr. Griffith’s and Mr. Collins’ constituencies.