HOME RULE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 102, 2 May 1911, Page 2

HOME RULE.

THE IRISH ENVOYS. RECEIVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS, A MESSAGE TO NEW ZEALAND. "We come bearing a message of good cheer and hope to the people of New Zealand. We believe that at last, with the assent of the British democracy at Home and of the British-speaking people throughout the world, we are about to attain that measure of national selfgovernment which you so well and wisely enjoy here m New Zealand, and we believe that the solution of the Irish problem and the attainment of their national rights by the Irish people will tend not merely to the prosperity and pacification of our own country politically, but that it will tend to consolidate and strengthen the Empire, of which it will be pleased to be incorporated as a. free unit. If that comes to passwithin the next eighteen months or two years wo will have to thank the people of Australasia, of all sections, of all creeds and classes, for the practical sympathy and support which they have accorded us."' This was the statement made by Mr. J. L. Donovan, one of the Irish Home Rule delegates, at the reception accorded them by the Mayor and members of the City Council this morning^ The envoys wore accompanied by Dr. Cahill (president), Mr. Martin Kennedy, Dr. Martin, and several members of the Reception Committee, and the Hon. G. Fowlds wae also present. THE MAYOR'S WELCOME. The Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.) said he desired to extend to the. envoys, on behalf of the 4 city and of the council, a hearty welcome to New Zealand. They had come to the Dominion as representatives of a great people, " and we as a city," he added, "though we have no politics — for no municipality in this country has politics, and I hope no municipality in this country ever will have politics — (hear, 'hear) — welcome you as the representatives of the citizens of the Empire City of New Zealand, and wish you long life and prosperity.", They knew that the visitors, as legislators of the' Old Country, must be, through Imperial mattero, in close Louch with this far portion of the British Empire, but they also knew that it was better for them to be able to speak of it as eyewitnesses- rather than merely as scribeo, and they in New Zealand, on their part realised that it was to the advantage of the Dominion that men like the "visitors, who held responsible positions in the Old World, should journey to this far off part of the Empire, for when they returned to the counsels of the nation they would be better equipped with that knowledge which is power for the future good government of their own part of the Empire. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Wilford assured the delegates of the hospitality that would be extended to them, and briefly remarked on the fact that local bodies are now elected on an adult suffrage (male and female), and that in Wellington the system of rating on the ununproved value of land is in force, ■and that no attempt is being made to alter that system. In conclusion, he again extended to them the heartiest, of welcomes on behalf of the city and the council. (Applause). ' Councillor Smith (senior councillor) also welcomed the delegates in a brief speech. ENVOYS' -ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. > Mr. R. Hazleton, in replying, said the envoys deeply appreciated the welcome that had been extended to thorn. They knew that that welcome had been given to them not on personal grounds, but because of the position which they were proud to occupy and the peopfa which they were proud to represent. He would only soy that if in every place in New Zealand they met with the came kindness and- consideration as they had) met with in the city of Wellington their stay in the Dominion, on persona] grounds alone, - would not only be a very pleasant one, but very useful and instructive also. He agreed with the Mayor that it was always useful for people from the Old Country to travel as much as possible among the newer countries such as this, because they could undoubtedly ' learn a great deal from them, and perhaps it might be beneficial to- both parties. (Hear, hear.) As one who had an interest in_ municipal government, at Home, being a member of the council of his own city, he found it very instructive" indeed to listen to what the Mayor had said about' municipal government in < New Zealand. He thought that sometimes they were inclined not co attach too much important to this branch of government, on which so largely and widely depended tho health and prosperity and well being of the citizens of a community such as this. This, he added, was not the time to make political references, but they looked forward not only to the carrying out of the work on which they had come, but to gaining an experience which might be useful and profitable to them_ when they again .took part in the affairs of their own country. (Applause.) MR. REDMOND. Mr. J. W. Redmond said the reception they had met with truly bespoke the sense of justice and fair play and honesty and hospitality which characterised every new country. As to the fact that the council was elected on an adult suffrage, that, to his mind, was a state of affairs which could not be equalled in any country in the world. They heard a good deal about. I/he great democracy of France and the great Republican democracy of the United States of America, but his opinion was that nowhere in the world would they find a truer sense, a truer ideal, a truer practical democracy than they would find in the Dominion of New Zealand and the Commonwealth of Australia. The Irish Party in the House of Commons had always supported and would always support every democratic measure that had been brought forward, and it was a great gratification to them to find when they came out here to .this budding and thriving and prosperous land that those ideals that they had been fostering and pushing forward, to the best of their zeal in the Old Country had borne such fruib in New Zealand. It would be a great gratification to Irishmen at Home to know with what dignity and hospltajity their representatives had been given a civic official reception in this great new land. (Applause.) A FORMER VISITOR. Mr. J. L. Donovan was the lasfo speaker. Unlike his colleagues he said, he had had the privilege and the pleasure of visiting this great Dominion some four years ago, and he carried away with him very pleafcant memories indeed of the people of the country. A good deal of ignorance prevailed in tho Home countries with. regard to such progressive land 6 as New Zealand, and he had, in articles and speeches, availed himself of the 1 opportunity to always uphold th© character of the people and the institutions of the Dominion which had impressed him so much on his previous visit. Ha knew of no people who had

a larger conception of civic duties or who were posses&ed of such a breadth of view as regarded tolerance, and progressive ideals in connection with the government of their country as the New Zealanders, and foe was glad that his colleagues wouM have an opportunity of verifying what he had told them they would find in New Zealand— a people tolerant and progressive and free, in every way, and that they would carry away with them many new ideas which might be brought into' the government of their own country wibh advantage. New Zealand was indubitably leading the Old Country — at least the Old Country was copying New Zealand's many reforms which had been introduced in connection with the government of Greai) Britain and Ireland, and they at Home could, with advantage, copy New Zealand in that re6pect in connection with municipal government. (Applause.) Mr. Donovan went on to the "message" to the people of New Zealand already quoted, and concluded by heartily thanking tho Mayor and councillors for the cordial welcome that had been extended to the Envoys. (Applause.) This concluded the proceedings. WELCOME FROM HIBERNIAN WOMEN. Later in the day, Messrs. Donovan, Hazelton, and Redmond were met by a number of lady members of St. Mary's branch of the Hibernian So-, ciety, at Mr. Martin Kennedy's residence. Very Revs. Fathers Hickson and Yenning, and some of the officers of the men's lodge, were also present. Sister K. Robinson, president of the branch, extended to the delegates a hearty welcome, and hoped they would be most successful in every respect with their mission, and that when they returned they would arrive in time to vote with the "Ayes" on the Home Rule Bill, as a reward for their labours on behalf of the cause. Miss Robinson then presented the delegates with an address each, conveying words of welcome, and good wishea for their mission. Mr. Donovan said that aa a brother Hibernian he accepted with gratitude the address., which embodied the sentiments of all who had the cause of Home Rule at heart. He remembered on his last visit to New Zealand the great support that had been given by the ladies. At Home they were working for the attainment of national selfgovernment, such as we had in New Zealand, and' he was hopeful that they would get it within two years. The satisfactory position they were now in, he asserted, was due in a large measure to the determination and magnificent support rendered by the ladies in the Old Land. Ireland was entitled to self-government on national and historic grounds. When England was in a barbaric state, Ireland was far advanced, and it was Ireland's missionaries who had spread • learning throughout the land. It would not be long before she again took her rightful place. He hoped that in a few years' time, when tho next Home Rule missionaries visited the Dominion, that they would come only to tell them that Ireland had obtained her liberty. Mr. Redmond, in returning thanks\ for the welcome, declared that in all their political fights the Home Rulers had the women on their side. In some portions of the North of Ireland, where they had the most bitter enemies, victory had been won through the efforts of the ladies. They were under a deep debt of gratitude to women all over the world for the manner in which they had upheld the cause. Mr. Hazolton said the ground on which tho Home Rulers had been attacked was that they desired to set up a Catholic ascendency in Ireland. That was not so. What they wanted was justice and equality of, all creeds and classes, find not a Protestant ascendency. He W_s glad to say that they were now neat attainment of their hopes. . x