LOW POLL BY IRISH

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33096, 11 December 1972, Page 17

LOW POLL BY IRISH

Vote against Church

- (N.Z.P. A. •Reuter—Copyright) DUBLIN, Dec. 10. ii The Irish Government has r had a sweeping success in a i national referendum aimed at 1 promoting eventual unity ( With Northern Ireland. But 1 the triumph is tinged by the failure of 49 per cent of registered voters to go to the ■ polls. Final returns showed that i more than five in one of I those who did cast ballot papers supported Government plans to end the special constitutional position of the J Roman Catholic Church in • the South. The Prime Minister (Mr I Lynch) attributed the small ■turnout to poor weather and I the fact that the referendum | was thought to be a foregone ■ conclusion and the lack of ‘any element of controversy! 'over the proposed change. He had hoped for a turnjout of at least 65 per cent, Ito show Protestants in i Northern Ireland that the! ■ neople of the predominantly I Roman Catholic Republic ■ were willing to make concessions to achieve unity. The poll also showed a big ■ majority in favour of a I second referendum issue—a ! proposal to lower the voting !age in the Republic from 21 Ito 18.