The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1922. THE IRISH CONSTITUTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1922. THE IRISH CONSTITUTION.

The more the cabled summary of the draft of the new Constitution for Irish self-government is studied, the greater becomes the conviction that considerable ingenuity has been exercised in -arranging compromises on several vital points. It is certainly a remarkable piece of work, none to clear in certain parts, but always giving indications of a desire to frame a workable system on the most democratic lines, while giving the utmost freedom of action lor the Irish people to work out their own destiny as “a co-equal member of the community of nations forming the British Commonwealth.” Apparently the general principles of the Treaty are upheld and maintained. The vital principle of fidI elity to the King and the consequent taking of the oath of allegiance by the members of tile Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, is expressly guaranteed, executive authority being vested in the King, advised by the Executive | Council responsible to the Chamber. It will be noticed, however, that a new departure has been made in the constitution of this Executive Council, only four of whom are to be members of the ■ Chamber, while the remaining eight are to be drawn from nonmembers of Parliament. By this arrangement the Irish Parliament will only control external affairs, while the eight members of the Executive appear to have charge of internal affairs. As the cabled message does not give any definite information as to how the executive is to be constituted, it is impossible to comment on what is really a very essential part of the scheme. It seems that eight of the members are to be chosen by a committee of the Chamber, , so as to impartially represent that body, but who is to select the remaining four is not clear. Tnat. there are to be two branches of the legislature—a Chamber and a Senate —is a matter of course, also that, the franchise is to be universal for both sexes on attaining 21 years of age, and that members are to be paid. These provisions accord with progressive democratic opinions. That the system of proportional representation is to be adopted is not surprising, and the experiment will be watched with interest. The proposed constitution of the Senate-is also a new departure as regards Upper House selection. The granting of the privilege of appointing two members of each University, and I the method of electing the other ififty-six Senators, appears to be quite satisfactory. Probably, r,,view of past troubles, eonsideraWr attention will be concentrated nr the nature of the safeguards p m . religious and civic liberty. Yt w Ireassuring to find that “the lilierpv and property of all persons are tn he inviolable,” also freedom .75T conscience and the free practice religion, and that no law may Tip made either directly or indirectly to endow any religion or proven' the free exircise thereof, or to affect children attending any school receiving public money, without attending schools of religions instruction. Although this latter provision does not secularise schools it gives all children equal . privileges. The constitution is to , be construed with the Treaty, 1 which is given by force of law. hence, if this provision is honored in the spirit, as well as the letter, , a great forward move will have s been made towards peace and con- ] cord. Whether the provision for 1 a referendum will be of advantage ' or not remains to be seen, but the t one anxiety that may arise under t

this proviso is that amendments to the constitution can be made by referendum, and even though a majority of two-thirds of the electors is required to sanction such amendments, it would seem desirable for power of veto to be vested in the Crown in order to safeguard the vital principles embodied in the Treaty. The measure of autonomy granted by this Constitution is certainly generous and far-reaching, possibly more so than is expedient, but the desire to put an end to all trouble and discord is so great that few reasonable people will be inclined to resent that generosity. A great deal depends upon whether the rights of minorities have been fully protected, as they must be if the ’scheme is to succeed. Once this important matter is absolutely cleared up the new era for Ireland should dawn with the highest hopes and the brightest prospects.