SELF-DETERMINATION FOR IRELAND LEAGUE

New Zealand Tablet, 8 September 1921, Page 24

SELF-DETERMINATION FOR IRELAND LEAGUE

MEETING AT WELLINGTON. A general meeting of the Self-Determination for. Ireland League was recently held at the Paramount Theatre, Wellington, for the purpose of presenting a progress report by the executive, -and to invite criticism, if needed. The chairman (Mr. P. J. O’Regan) ■presided, and there was a large attendance. The chairman explained that the meeting was held on a Sunday evening, owing to the difficulty in securing a hall for a week night for some time to come.

Mr. O’Regan, in opening the meeting, said that negotiations had been in progress between the British Government and the representatives of Ireland; all hope they would result in a satisfactory settlement. (Hear, hear.) Sympathisers overseas would join in wishing for a permanent settlement of the Irish question. The speaker desired not to criticise the negotiations, but to say that they offered much more than the limits of the Home Rule Bill. The question of the government of Ireland was a matter for the people, without any interference. It was not fair to criticise the deliberations of the Parliament of Ireland, but the members had full confidence in President de Valera and his Parliament. (Applause.) The people of England would lend their support to it, as the most deliberative Parliament in the world. The time had arrived for a protest against the sustained and systematic propaganda of the press, which held up the most law-abiding men in Ireland as murderers. This propaganda has been encouraged by the sentence of Ireland’s sympathisers, but not even the threat of war legislation would keep them quiet any longer. (Applause.) The secretary (Mr. M. J. Reardon) read a comprehensive report on the work of the League since its inception in May last. Suppressed Literature A member asked what attitude the League would take in regard to the suppression of literature dealing with the Irish question. The chairman said that the war legislation included literature appertaining to Ireland. Some of the literature had been suppressed’for a reason that it was very difficult to understand. Several questions, in regard to the administration of the League, were answered by the chairman. Everything that was done in the League was done in a whisper, said a member, who referred to the affairs of the Marlborough branch. The chairman: There may be whispers in Marlborough, but there are no whispers here. (Applause.) A resolution, to adopt the report, was agreed to. Late T. J. Ryan * Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., moved“ That this meeting records its appreciation of the late Mr. T. J. Ryan’s services to the cause of Ireland, and expresses its condolence with his widow and family in the loss they have sustained by his sudden and untimely death.” The resolution was carried, members standing in their places. Mr. Fraser congratulated the League on its having issued 170,000 pamphlets and leaflets, giving the truth about Ireland. “The Case for Ireland” was unanswerable. Father Gondringer moved“ That this meeting places on record its appreciation of the services rendered to the cause of Ireland by Miss Katherine Hughes, of Canada. Miss Hughes, said the speaker, had breathed a new spirit into the League movement in New Zealand. • The resolution was carried, amid applause. The Irish Policy Mr, O’Regan moved—“ That this meeting of the SelfDetermination for Ireland League of New Zealand records its entire confidence in President de Valera and the'.bail Eireann to determine the policy which will best serve the interests of the people of Ireland. That a copy of this resolution be cabled to President de Valera.” The motion was carried.

General On the motion of Mr. Griffin, jun., it was decided to sot up a committee for the purpose of taking definite steps fur organising relief for distress in Ireland. Father Gondringer mentioned that the pupils of St. Patrick s College had donated £lO to the movement.