SHORT BUT BITTER

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 29 August 1927, Page 5

SHORT BUT BITTER

FREE STATE ELECTIONS.

ISSUES AT STAKE. COMMENTS ON DISSOLUTION dY CABLE—TRESS ASSOCIATION— lO? Y t.GHI. LONDON, Aug. 27. Not the least interested in me general election into winch Ireland *7* oeen plunged for the .second tmie witjiui four months, vvi.L be Gerald O'Sullivan and Dr. riennc.ssy, who enjoyed membership of the Dad iror two ana lorn Hours 'respectively. The writs have already been received and most constituencies intboate that the fastest and probably tlu> bitterest settlement of the• count* y* * v will be compressed into the twelve ayfrom September 3 to Id. There is a clear issue between th Government and the luanna lad. Die latter is still equipped with a little money, which Mr De Valera raisedl n America. The others are yeiy pooily supplied with funds for which reason it is expected Labour will concentrate on holding the present seats. lit Government will probably nominate 10b candidates and the 1' uuuia, 1' ail 90 toi the 152 vacancies. . , „ This election, like most bombshells seems to have shaken the nerves ol those finding the explosion too close *°Mr Joints on," the Labour Leader, described -T as “a gambler s throw, professing to.- be entirely unpertu b , but lie continued: “It is desperate to all believers in democracy. The most valuable De Y alera. comment comes from, ex-Seaan Lernass, who says: “The principal result of the election will be the disappearance of the Farmers’ Party and the acceptance of the principle, that it is useless to elect several small groups. One party strong enough to rule must he return- _ Mr. Cosgrave say® the. result of the by-elections was too .remarkable to overlook, and he concludes that the rest of the country is awaiting an opportunity to lender the same verdict. The London morning papers are almost unanimously of the opinion that Air Cosgrave’s action was a master stroke. , , The “Daily Telegraph” says the oppositionists were clearly enraged. Both parties wanted power but neither was willing to take the verdict- c-f the -people as to their fitness to rule. The “Telegraph” points out that article 53 01 • the constitution provides that ‘‘an executive, which does not retain the confidence, of the House may not dissolve the Dail.” This* was popularly interpreted as preventing Mr Cosgrave from dissolving, “but fortunately the lawyers took the broad view' that the section -did not apply so long as a vote >t no-confidence was not paissed.” Captain Redmond describes Mr Cosgrave’s dissolution as tricky tactics deigned to snatch a party .advantage. The issue of the election, he says, will be peace or war.

He doubts whether enthusiasm is evoked by the proposal: to- give Air Cosgrave the full powers of mandate, and thinks it will renew civil disturbances throughout the country by a vva.r of coercion upon political opponents, on the pretext of suppressing crime. The Dublin newspapers contain display advertisements by the Government, while De Valera, is appealing for election, funds.

(British Official Wireless.)

"R,UGBY r , Aug. 26. Yesterday’s by-election gave the Free State Govenrment a gain of one seat and a. majority of one in the Dai.l. The ilaii'ge increase in the Government votes, indicating that practically all the people- who voted for the National League and Independent- candidates on the last occasion bail transferred their support to the Government candidates, presumably encouraged Mr Oosg.nave in the belief that an immediate general election would re-establish him with a majority of a. less precarious, nature.