THE IRISH DELEGATES IN WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, 4 May 1911, Page 814

THE IRISH DELEGATES IN WELLINGTON

The Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, telegraphing on Tuesday evening, says: —The Home Rule delegates are:jalready having a busy time in Wellington. They began the day with a visit to the Mayor, who received them on behalf of the city. Mr. J. T. Donovan, in referring to their mission, said: ' We came bearing a message of good cheer and hope to the people of New Zealand. " We believe that at last, with the assent of the British democracy at Home, and of the Britishspeaking people throughout the world we are about to attain that measure of national self-government which you so well and wisely enjoy here in New Zealand, and we believe that the solution of the Irish problem, and the attainment of their national rights by the Irish people will tend not merely to the prosperity and pacification of our own country politically, but that it will tend to consolidate and strengthen the Empire, of which it will be pleased to be incorporated as a free unit. If that comes to pass within the next eighteen months or two years we shall have to thank the people of Australasia of all sections and of all creeds and classes for the practical sympathy and support which they have accorded us.' Mr. R. Hazleton, in the course of his reply to the Major's welcome, said that if in every place in New Zealand they met with the same kindness and consideration that they had met with in the city of Wellington their stay in the Dominion on personal grounds alone would not only be a pleasant one, but very useful and instructive also. It was always useful for people from the Old Country to travel as much as possible among the newer countries, such as this, because they could undoubtedly learn a great deal from them. Perhaps it might be beneficial to both parties. As one who had an interest in municipal government at Home, being a member of the council of his own city, he, found it very instructive indeed to listen to what the Mayor had said about municipal government in New Zealand. He thought that sometimes they were inclined, not to attach too much importance to this branch of government, on which so largely and widely depended the health and prosperity and well-being of the citizens of a community such as this. This, he added, was not the time to make political references, but they looked forward not only to the carrying out of the work on which they had come, but to gaining an experience which might be useful and profitable to them when they again took part in the affairs of their own country. Later in the day the delegates were welcomed by the women of the Hibernian Society. All three delegates replied to the welcome, Mr. Redmond remarking that in all their political fights the Home Rulers had the women on their side. In some portions of the North of Ireland, where they had the most bitter enemies, victory had been won through the efforts of the ladies. They were under, a deep debt of gratitude to women all over the world for the manner in which they had upheld the cause. Mr. Hazleton said the ground on which the Home Rulers had been attacked was that they desired to set up a Catholic ascendancy in Ireland. That was not so. What they wanted was justice and equality of all creeds and classes, and not a Protestant ascendancy. He was glad to say they were now near the attainment "of their hopes.

PALMERSTON NORTH. Mr. J. A. Nash (the Mayor) presided at a meeting held in the Opera House on Saturday evening for the purpose of making arrangements for the visit of the Irish delegates (writes our Palmerston North correspondent). A representative committee was set up with Mr. E. 0. Hurley, as chairman, and Messrs. W. Devine and M. Kennedy as treasurer and secretary respectively. It is very possible that the delegates will alter the night from May 10 to May 7.