REPUBLICAN GAINS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 69, 20 February 1932, Page 7

REPUBLICAN GAINS

VICTORY FOR FIANNA FAIL. END OF COSGRAVE REGIME? NEWSPAPER’S COMMENT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received February 20, 9.10 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 19. In connection with the Irish Free State elections, the Government has now won 37 seats, and the Republicans 47. ‘ “It looks as if the Fianna Fail has won.’’ said Mr W. T. Cosgrave. “We shall at least form a very strong Opposition.” Mr Earn on de Valera stated: “The Fianna Fail is in. I knew we would beat the Cosgrave-ites. It is a triumph for the Fianna Fail’s policy.” The Guardian’s correspondent at Dublin says that one apparent certainty at the present stage is that the Cosgrave regime has ended. Everyone is praying fervently, rather I#.an hopefully, that nothing worse wul come in its place. It is not probable that Mr Eamon de Valera will obtain an absolute majority. There are indications that he will have from 70 to 75 seats, and Labour, which is anti-Cosgrave, from six to eight. There is no likelihood of a Fianna Fail-Labour coalition. All responsibility of office would be thrown on Mr de Valera. The Communist candidates in Dublin, Messrs Larkin and Troy, have forfeited their deposits. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTA- . TION. HELP TO MR COSGRAVE. LONDON, Feb. 19. At 4 a.m. in Dublin the indications' were for a close finish in the Free State elections. Mr Cosgrave has complained of the vagaries of proportional representation, but he has reason now to bless it, because it has enabled some of his candidates to scrape home from near the bottom of the poll. Mr Alfred Byrne, Mnyor of Dublin, who stood at Mr Cosgrave’s special request ns an Independent Government supporter, has been elected. Captain William Archer Redmond, previously a Nationalist League member, Was elected for Waterlord as a Government supporter. The members elected included Dublin City North, Mrs Collins O’Driscoll (Government); Longford and Westmeath, General Macooin (Government) ; Cork, R. S. Anthony; Tipperary, D. Morrissey, both Independent Labourites expelled from the party in October for supporting the Public Safety Bill. The Republicans have gained two seats from the Government, two from the Independents, and one from Labour.

The total Government poll in North Dublin was 36,000 against the de Valera Party’s 25,000. The highest poll in the whole of the Free State was ,Mr Cosgrave’s; nevertheless, the Government candidates appear to have dropped votes almost everywhere. The electors rewarded Labour’s alliance with the Republicans with the defeat of many Labour candidates. All the Communist - candidates were rejected.