STRONGER TREASON LAW IN IRELAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 11

STRONGER TREASON LAW IN IRELAND.

TWO NEW BILLS.

Powers Needed to Deal With " Certain Bodies." ; STRINGENT MEASURES. British Official Wireless. (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, February 8. The Eire Minister of Justice, Mr. P. J. Ruttledge, according to Dublin reports, to-day asked leave in the Dail to introduce a measure bringing up-to-date the present treason law and a measure entitled Offences Against the State Bill. The latter, according to these reports, proposes to make provision in relation to actions and conduct calculated to undermine public order and the authority of the State, and for that purpose to provide for the punishment of person* guilty of any offence against the State; to regulate control, in the public interest, of the formation of associations; to establish special criminal courts under Article 38 of the Constitution, and provide for the constitution, powers and jurisdiction of such courts. Article 38 in the Eire Constitution authorises the setting up of courts to try certain criminal cases without juries. Leave to introduce the bills was granted by 78 votes to 8, after Mr. Ruttledge said that the Eire Government had decided on the bills because it was known that powers were needed to deal with certain organisations. He is reported as referring to the Irish Republican Army proclamation issued at Dublin on December 8, when a certain body purported to hold itself out as a Government. Mr. Ruttledge added that Eire could not tolerate that.

The bilk introduced to-day were forecast in Mr. de Valera's Senate speech last night. In England to-day two other men were charged in the courts in connec-tion-with recent bombing outrages and were remanded. FURTHER ARRESTS. IRISHMEN IN CUSTODY. (Received 1.30 p.m.) " LONDON, February 8. Members of Scotland Yard before dawn raided a house in Sutton, arrested six Irishmen and seized documents, including plans of the Sutton police station and other important buildings.