IRISH ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1933, Page 5

IRISH ELECTIONS

PARTY ACTIVITY

DE VALERA’S HOPE OF VICTORY. (United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.* LONDON, January 5. Though it is difficult for Englishmen to believe it, there nevertheless are not a few good judges of politics in the Irish Free State who consider that a victory for the de Valera Government is possible, even against the united opposition. De Valeraites are claiming that, they will win seventy-nine seats at the elections, and are already scorning the necessity of seeking aid from the Labour Party which held the balance of power in the last Dail Eireann. The Irish Free State is in the grip of the election fever. Mr Cosgrave, Opposition Leader, and Mr McDermott, Leader of the Farmers’ Party, had a conference and they arranged to avoid the splitting of votes in ten of the constituencies where a clash would be likely to involve a victory lor Mr de Valera’s Party. '• Mr Cosgrave, however, admits that. it is now too late to form a national, coalition. - - ; The Irish Labour Party have decided to support Mr de Valera's Government. The Party are thus maintaining the attitude which they took up In the last Dail Eireann.

00'S GRAVE S-F ARM EPS PACT. TO GIVE EACH A CLEAR FIELD. . (Received this day at 9.15 a.m.) DUBLIN, January 5. Though complete fusion of the constitutionalists is impossible in the brief time available it is fairly certain that the talks between ‘Mr Cosgrave and the 'Farmers’ leader, iMr McDermott, will produce an agreement that each party will leave the other a clear field. Cosgravites will not contest seats where the farmers have the best chance. These number at feast ten. Similarly farmers will refrain from hampering Mr Cosgrave’s strongholds. Thus the solidity of the pro-treaty ivote is assured.

Mr de Valera opens his campaign at Dundalk to-morrow.