HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 27, 1 February 1907, Page 2

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.

MR. J. T. DONOVAN ENTERTAINED. Last night Mr. J. T. Donovan, who has been working through Australasia with Mr. J. Dovlin in tho interests of the Irish Parliamentary Party, was entertained in Freeman's Rooms by members of the United Irish League. With music, recitations, speeches, and refreshments, tho time- was passed very pleasantly. Mr. Martin Kennedy presided. The chairman, in introducing the guest of the evening, said that Mr. Donovan had been doing yeoman's work in other parts of tho colony. AH felt; that Messrs. Donovan and Devlin had ' done incalculable good for tho Irish 'cause in Australasia. They had elevated that cause to a much higher place than tho ono on which it stood prior to their advent. (Applause.) Mr. Fitzgibbon, proposing the toast of the guest, said it was easy to understand why New Zealanders, with the lovo of freedom inherited from the pioneers who camo out from tho Home land, were eager to welcome Messrs. Devlin and Donovan. Only ignorance stood in the way of Home Rule for Ireland. Mr. P. J. O'Rogan remarkod that, taking the press as an index of public opinion, no country in tho world — excepting Ireland — was more unanimously in favour of Home Rule for Ireland than New Zealand was. In reply, Mr. Donovan said he was profoundly grateful for tho welcome accorded him. For almost twelve months Mr. Devlin and himself had been in Australasia, and in all parts they had -been greeted with marvellous demonstrations of enthusiasm. In every soction of tho English-speaking world every man of character and ability, every thinking man, was with the Irish people in the struggle that they were making ■ for tho restoration of tho National Parliament. Ho claimed that tho Irish people and the Nationalist Party were the true Unionists, for they wished to establish international friendship. Tho soonor tho ofiicialist Unionist Party in Ulster was thrown out, the better it would bo for tho Empire. (Applause) Apart the fact that over £22,000 had beeh collected in Australasia for tho fighting fund, tho permanent moral effect of the present mission was too'grcat to be estimated. Ho quoted incidents to show that Orange apd green were blending in tho North of Ireland on tho banner of liberty. Orangemen out here were out of touch with their brethren at Homo. Ireland was ruled - by , nominated boards,' consisting df English fossils, who had, been nuisances in the army and failures in tho navy. ; , Ho believed that 'tho pro-, sent Liberal- Cabinet would grant a" measure of tho freedom for which the Irish had been fighting so long. (Applause.) Ho bclievod- that the next, delegation .-would no.t come to nsk for further support but to thank the people of Australasia for their generous assintancc given in the past and. now. (Applause). '■ , < '