IRISH FREE STATE.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17985, 2 April 1930, Page 2

IRISH FREE STATE.

NUNCIO’S ARRIVAL. THE “ INVISIBLE MENDER.” (From a Correspondent.) DUBLIN, January 19. Dublin Bay has great natural beauty, and it formed a fitting setting for the ■welcome accorded by the Stale to the Nuncio Apostolic, Archbishop Robinson, last Tuesday. Bonfires blazed on the two promontories of Howth and Bray Head; there were arches, banners, decorations, illuminations, and all sections vied to do honour to the illustrious prelate. Political pageantry being for the moment inappropriate, the natural disposition of the people for ceremony found fervent scope on this historic occasion. The 1 “staff work” all through the week was excellent, and organisation was made all the easier by the discipline and good behaviour of the people. After landing, the Nuncio, accompanied by the President, ofneiated at a solemn Te Deum service at the ProGathedral. On Wednesday he presented his credentials to the GovernorGeneral. Most of the bishops and high officials attended the official banquet on Wednesday. Here the presence of bishops from outside the State added special significance to the function. Its representative character, however,, was marred by the fact that the Provost of Trinity, the Archbishop <jf Dublin, and the Moderator of the General Assembly were none of them able to he present. The festivities culminated in a grand reception at the Mansion House on Thursday night, which the Governor-General and Mrs McNeill attended. It is noteworthy that while members of Fianna Fail were present at the Pro-Calhedral on the invitation of the Archbishop of Dublin, they refused to attend any of the functions organised by the Government This is in obedience to the order of the Ard Feis, their sovereign authority, and is almost the last dicker

of non-recognition. The only other function of any importance before the Nuncio finallj takes Up his quarters at the late Under-Secretary's Lodge will be. a ; visit to Kilkenny and the presentation ■ of the freedom of that city. It wa.s over 284 years ag° ■ that the ast Nuncio, Bishop Rinuccini, visited this city, and every effort wll be made t° v revive the historic association. It is ■ ahvavs. pleasing to remember' that while Bishop Rinuccini brought not peace but a sword to a distracted country, to-day Archbishop Robinson comes to a land which, after years of affliction, is free, at peace, and striving to work out its national destiny. The Church’s Influence.

It is only natural that the honour the Pope has paid to the Irish nation should he made an occasion of pomp j and ceremony in such a manner as to > mark the faith, and pride of our people. ; But after the "shouting dies" and we j get hack to normal the event will have i an influence in national affairs. There j can be little doubt that though the j Constitution forbids a Slate Ghurc.i | we shall be for years, both in form j and spirit, a Catholic counlrj, and Hierarchy will be a veiled and yet j potent force in public life. The wider j and broader, therefore, its outlook j the better for all sections and sects. ■ It must therefore, be to the country s advantage to have on the spot a broad- j minded statesman as well as a man ol j trie world representing the Vatican, j endowed with its authority, to .whom , aggrieved persons may appeal. Re ■ will be able to rise above petty parly j feeling, local jealousies, and play the ; part of the "invisible mender" that Hie laic Governor-General said had; often been ids lot. It is generally he- i lieved that the Government was more 'anxious than the lleirarehy tor Lie appointment. No subordinate who has enjoyed the freedom of a dotaened command likes, at first, the proxim-ly of superior authority. Trop de Zele. There is certainly one direction in which restraint is more than overdone and that is in regard to the embittered and excessive zeal of some of the extreme sectarian organ?. They have been charaterised by the Rev. Aubrey Gwynu, 8..!., as periodicals which advertised themselves as Catholic by their lilies and defended their principles in a way that was “better calculated to injure Christian charity than to promote the cause of Catholic truth.” It is these periodicals that delight in attacking Freemasons, pillorying them by name, and poking fun at the ritual of their Order, in publishing the names of non-Catholic employees in certain institutions, in placing in inverted commas the titles of high dignitaries of other churches, and generally pouring scorn on those of different faith.

Health of the Rural Districts,

\ cry often heard throughout the country' is that undue regard is paid to the' welfare of the capital and larger towns while country areas are ignored arfd neglected. This charge certainly does not lie against the Department of Local Government m the matter of public health and sanitation The complaint rather is made that it is trying to force the pace. According to the last report of the department thirteen out of the twenty-six counties had appointed county medical oflicers of health. Where counties have omitted to make the appointment it was generally due to the opposition of the councils themselves, who dread not alone the salaries of the officers, but all expense that the inevitable reforms will entail. The problem is an eloquent illustration of the gulf between modern theory and economic possibility. The standard of sanitation and housing in the small towns and villages is often deplorable. Yet the people arc so poor and the ratepayers so burdened that reform can only he gradual and imperfect. In many of these areas house rents are as low as 3s a week, and the occupiers, many of them agricultural labourers, cannot pay more. There are few resident landlords who can afford, for the sake of noblesse oblige, to provide houses as a charity. The result is, all classes are opposed to extra expense, and even medical oflicers of health cannot make silk purses out of sows’ ears.