PATRIARCHAL POLITICIAN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 2 June 1914, Page 7

PATRIARCHAL POLITICIAN.

At "the age; Of 'ninety-three' Mr Samuel Young, the. Nationalist M.P.. for East Cavan voted in a division' last monthl in , the' House of Commons ou the Home Rule Bill. The oldest member of the - present House, Mr Young's devotion to the cause of Home Rule is particularly noteworthy. It was' in 1892 that, in order to' assist Mr Gladstone in his efforts in-"that direction, he sought election as a Nationalist,-* and was returned. He is a Protestant and lives in Belfast. • When elected to Parliament he was over seventy years of age. • He is a merchant. "Mr Gladstone had a majority of only forty,' ■ he recalled after the division last month,: "and I took part in every division of. the session. You can imagine what a busy time that: was for -us. . Although we 'spent.ieightyfour houre. over therßill, the House of Lords rejected it.in two hours! .Parliamentary work,is nipt,now. so strenuous; as it w:as in those daysfox, me, .but one has to;be..yc-ry watchful now 'because of the practice of snap divisions, which has sprung up. My, constituents are very good to, me,'' he said; "they tell me not to go to London unless 1 feel w ■, enough to do so. But," he added with vigor and clenching his fist, "I want' to see' the work for which I entered Parliament, and which will be for the lasting ."benefit of Ireland, completed. That is' why I ani here. I am not so strong as I might be. Still I came to' London in the belief that the division was taking place on the day following my arrival. This was not: so, but lam staying: on to participate. in it." JMr Young deliyered a speech in Parlia--ment last year. but it is .three years since he addressed his constituents at JBast Cavan. .The oldest M^P. in the •House of ;Gpmraons was.Mr C; P. Villiers. who died at the age of ninety-six in 1898. v ; "...;/, '■"""