THE IRISH ENVOYS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 26, 31 January 1907, Page 8

THE IRISH ENVOYS.

'A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN. INTERESTING EXPLANATIONS BY ; MR. O'DONOVAN. On Saturday, '-Messrs. J, Devlin and J. T. O'Donovan, tho envoys of the Irish Nationalist Parliamentary Party, will j commence their journey home from Auckland. The result of the Australasian campaign has exceeded the delegates' anti- 1 cipations. Altogether a sum of £22,000 has been collected for the- battle. of Home Rule for Ireland. Mr. O'Donovan, who has just arrived in Wellington after a very satisfactory tour of the West Coast of the South Island, is the guest of Mr. Martin Kennedy. This morning the envoy made some interesting comments to a representative of the Post in reference to recent cable messages about Mr. William O'Brien's allegations regarding the disposition of the funds. "We Shave no payment of members at Home, jdo railway passes," remarked Mr. O'Donovan. Most of the men of the j Irish Parliamentary Party are not wealthy. It is necessary that men should be selected on their merits, apart from wealth or position. The result is that quite a number of men cannot afford to go to the Imperial Parliament at ■London and spend eight to ten months of the year there without getting some small honorarium. The Irish Nationalist Party is the only political party that publishes a balance-sheet, duly audited every year. The funds collected in Australasia are primarily devoted to what is known as the Irish Parliamentary Fund, of which there are three trustees, Dr. O'Donnell (Biehop of Raphoe), Mr. John Redmond (leader of the party), and Alderman Stephen O'Aleara, of Limerick. All moneys collected in Australasia for the iund "are transmitted through treasurers — Mr. Martin Kennedy is the treasurer i for New Zealand — and reach the hands of tile trustees at Home for investment." Mr. O'Donovan also mentioned that political movements in Great Britain entailed more expense than they did in New Zealand. For instance, the cost of tho registration of voters had to be borne by the political organisations themselves. The" sheriff's expenses at • elections, the payment for • officers and j clerks -at the polling booths had to he provided by the candidates, and this entailed heavy expenditure. For instance, the sheriff's expenses for Mr. Devlin's election at West Belfast amounted to over £400, and even in uncontested elections each candidate had to deposit £25 which was retained by • the sheriff. Then, agaiir there was not manhood suffrage at Home. Courts were held to test the qualifications of electors,- and the expense fell on the candidates or the party to which they were attached. With regard to moneys previously collected, and indeed, all moneys collected in connection with the Nationalist organisation, balance-sheets had been filed for the past twenty-five years, and could be obtained in the .Central Office at Dublin. "So, mucl/for Mr. O'Brien's talk about maladministra- | tion of funds," remarked Mr. O'Donovan, dismissing this tupic. Next' he repeated Mr. Devlin's arguments to show that there was no split in the ranks of the Nationalists, and went on to explain Mr. O'Brien's attitude. "Mr. O'Brien," he . said, "favours what is known as 'Devolution' a half-way house to Home Rule. But Mr. Redmond reflects the view of the Irish Party in refusing to accept any system of government which is not broad-based on the people's will ; that is, a legislative body elected by the people and responsible to the people. The people do not desire a system of govj ernment opposed to the spirit and tendency of the age, which is government of the people, by the people, for the people." Mr. O'Donovan also submitted that the methods of the Irish Nationalists were broadly conciliatory. Mr. O'Brien sought to conciliate a small group of landlords, bnt the Irish party preached conciliation among loe masses, without regard to class or creed. Mr. O'Brien Eractically advocated the purchase of oldings, by the tenants, at any price, but Irish leaders of public opinion maintained that in view of the competition of foreign producers Irish land would be depreciated in value in the near future, and therefore the people were warned agarinst paying too exorbitant prices for land. This policy had the people of Ireland at its back, bat Mr. O'Brien had as his supporters only the two persons who had been expelled from the Nationalist party's ranks, and a small following in Cork. "I have been charmed with New Zealand, delighted with its people," concluded Mr. O'Donovan. "I have been impressed with the great prospects that indubitably lie before this country. I shall carry away many pleasant recollections oi the kindness and generosity extended to those 'whom Mr. Devlin and myself at present represent in New Zealand." The envoy also expressed gratitude to the colony's press for its considerate treatment. This evening Mr. O'Donovan will be the guest of the United Irish League at a social gathering in Freeman's rooms, Lamb ton-quay.