HOME RULE PROSPECTS DEAN M'KENNA'S VIEWS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 71, 25 March 1914, Page 8

HOME RULE PROSPECTS DEAN M'KENNA'S VIEWS.

"The leports that have been received in New Zealand in regard to the state of affairs in Ireland in connection with Home Rule are certainly exaggerated," said the Very Rev. Dean M'Kenna, V.G., of Masterton, who leturned to New Zealand by the Ulimaroa this afternoon, after a year's trip to the Okl Country. He was accompanied by his brother, the Rev. Father T. M'Kenna, of Pahiatua, and was met by a numerous gathering of the local Catholic clergy. Consequently he could only devote, a few moments to discussion of public. affairs. "Before I left Ireland," he remarked, in answer to further questions on the subject" of Home Rule, "I had an interview with Mr. Redmond, and he was quite confident that Home Rule would be carried. He (Dean M'Kenna) did not believe there was .such strong feeling in the North of Ireland as the newspapers would lead them to think. The opponents of Home 'Rule were the Unionists, who feared that they would lose the patronage and influence which they had for so many years enjoyed under the prei sent system. If 'Home Rule was passed, patronage would disappear, and merit would be tho chief consideration. Mr. Redmond, he added, was quite confident that a Home Rule measure would be carried before a dissolution was brought about ; and ho was also confident that if there should be a dissolution before the Bill was carried the Asquith Government would be returned to power, though perhaps with a smaller majority. And for this reason : Home Rule would not be the only issue before the electors. The Insurance Act, for instance, was not popular with the -working classes, who were only aware of the fact that they had to make payments and did not receive immediate results. Generally speaking, he said in conclusion, the condition of affairs in Ireland was very satisfactory. The people .were prosperous ; the crops though light' were good ; there had. been a magnificent summer, and the potato crop was the best thai had been known for many years. Dean M'Kenna will leave to-morrow morning for Masterton, where he is to be given a public reception.