LAWLESSNESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 242, 13 October 1933, Page 7

LAWLESSNESS.

IRISH FREE STATE.

Government Challenged in Dail Debate. INTIMIDATION RAMPANT. (United P.A.—Electric Telegrap#—Copyright) DUBLIN, October 12. In the Dail, the deputy-leader of the United Ireland party, Mr. P. McDermott, asked whether the Government intended to institute prosecutions in connection with the Tralee riot of October 6. The Minister of Justice, Mr. P. Ruttledge, replied: "I am not in a position to make a statement. The AttorneyGeneral is investigating the matter. Mr. McDermott said he was dissatisfied with the reply. Later, 011 the motion for an adjournment, he called attention, in a vivid speech, to the conditions in the Free State. He said the problem of intimidation had increased in seriousness since the formation of the United Ireland party. The first serious outbreak was in Limerick when the police did their duty, with the result that protests were made in which de Valeru party deputies participated. The organ of the Irish Republican Army congratulated the mob on the occurrences in Tralee, which involved injuries to General O'Duffy, a former Minister, Mr. Patrick Lynch and others. Mr. McDermott recalled the storming of his ear in Limerick on October o when several men should have been arrested. He said all the parties should co-operatc in dealing with organised attempts to destroy the rights of citizenship. Mr. Ruttledge's admission that no arrests were made in Tralee disgraced the Government. Mr. Ruttledge replied that the Attor-ney-General must decide whether charges could be made before the military tribunal or the ordinary Courts. The Government was behind the Civic Guards and the preservation of free speech. The matter was then dropped.

POTATO RICHES. POWER ALCOHOL PLAN. LONDON, October 8. A scheme, with £5,000,000 backing, is included in Mr. de Valera's plans to turn "Tlif> Curse of Ireland"—the potato — into a great blessing. Experts are busy with the idea, which, it is expected, will revolutionise agricultural and commercial life, and create a market for potatoes beyond the wildest dreams of the most fanciful farmer. A piece of land producing 301b of wheat, it is hoped, will yield 10001b of potatoes, from which it is proposed to extract industrial alcohol, even from diseased products, at a cost of Gd a gallon. The plans include the establishment of many distilleries throughout the country. It is proposed to form a credit association, with a capital of £5,000,000, to finance the scheme. Mr. de Valera is also planning the manufacture of beet sugar, with factories at Thurles, Tuam and Mallow.