A Petition.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 23, 5 June 1902, Page 18

A Petition.

A petition, which we understand originated in Wellington, was open for signature at the door of St. Joseph's Catheiral on Sunday morning. It is to be sent to the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, aiking him to bring before the Conference of Colonial Premiers in London the subject of Ireland's discontent whioh, as the document rightly says, it would be to the best interests of the British Empire to have

removed, and thus make the Irish people contented and loyal. Particular stress is laid on the urgent necessity that exists for the settlement of the land question — a question that is 'at the bottom of all the trouble.' When a petition is put before the public they like to know from whom it emanates, and if it has the sanction of representative people. The motives of the originators were no doubt good, bat their methods were at fault. There was a mystery about the petition which militated against its success. It was sprung as a surprise upon the majority of Irishmen of the Colony, and if it did not receive that support which the originators expected, they have only themselves to blame for the failure. The leading Irishmen in the different centres should, in the first place, have been consulted as to the propriety of sending suoh a request, and that matter having been settled in the affirmative, the proposal should have as muoh publioity as possible. The number of signatures obtained in Dunedin was, comparatively speaking, small, and consequently Mr Seddon might imagine that the suggestions contained in the petition did not meet with the approval of the majority of Irishmen of this Colony.