THE HOME RULE CONVENTION

New Zealand Tablet, 2 August 1917, Page 30

THE HOME RULE CONVENTION

SITTINGS OPENED. The historic convention, summoned to draft a scheme for the future government of Ireland, assembled on Wednesday, July 25, in Trinity College, Dublin. Long before the opening College Green was packed with spectators, who displayed but little enthusiasm. The proceedings will be private throughout. The Government nominees include Lords Dunraven, Desart, . Granard, and Mac Donnell, Sir Horace Plunkett, Sir William Goulding, Sir Bertram Windle, Sir William Crawford, Sir James McCullough, Sir Michael Murphy, and Sir G. Russell.

Chairman and Secretary.

It is officially announced that the Irish Convention has appointed Sir Horace Plunkett as chairman, and Sir Francis Hopwood secretary. The Right Hon. Sir Horace Curzon Plunkett, D.L., P.C. (Ireland), K.C.V.0., is the third son of 16th Baron Dunsany. He was educated at Oxford, engaged in cattle ranching 1879-89, and founded the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society, 1894. He was M.P. for Dublin 1892-1900 and was Vice-Presi-dent of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland 1899-1907. He is the author of a number of sociological publications. The Right Hon. Sir Francis Hopwood, G.C.M.G., additional Civil Lord to the Admiralty, has been a member of many Royal Commissions. He has been Under-Secretary for the Colonies and permanent secretary to the Board of Trade. He was a member of the Commission to South Africa to advise on the Constitution for the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies. He is secretary of the Order of SS. Michael and George. The composition of the convention is as follows: 1. The chairman of all county and borough councils.

2. Iwo members elected by urban district councils. 3. Four Catholic bishops ; the Primate and the Archbishop of Dublin representing the Protestant religion in Ireland; and Dr. John Irwin, the Modei’ator of the Presbyterian Church. 4. The chairmen of the Chambers of Commerce of Dublin. Cork, and Belfast.

5. Five representatives of Irish Labor. 6. Five members nominated by Mr. Redmond. 7. Five nominated by Sir J. Lonsdale (for Ulster Unionists). 8. Two nominated by the Irish Peers. 9. Five from Southern Unionists. 10. Fifteen leading Irishmen nominated by the Government, so as to promote the object which all soberand loyal Irishmen have in view. The names of representatives were published in the Tablet issue of July 19. Later information is to the effect that at its second meeting the Irish Convention appointed a Preliminary Procedure Committee, and then ad journed until August 7 to enable the chairman and secretary to prepare and circulate material in connection with data. Mr. Redmond has sent a message to the Dominions stating that the auspicious inauguration of the convention raises hopes that the deliberations may lead to an early realisation of an united self-governed Ireland.