TAKEN TO TASK

Northern Advocate, 22 March 1934, Page 5

TAKEN TO TASK

1 DE VALERA ADMINISTRATION FINANCIAL LEEWAY. FUND FOR SECRET SERVICE, (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received 9 a.m.) DUBLIN, March 20. In the Irish Free State Senate today Mr John MeLonghlin criticised the Estimates. He said that instead of Mr Do Valera’s promised saving of £2,000,000, he had increased expenditure by £8,000,000 as compared with Mr W. T. Cosgravo’s last Budget. The most sinister increase Avas the rise in the Secret Sonnce vote from £2OOO to £25,000. “If the Government exists only by subsidising secret son-ice agents, its mandate is ended,” said Mr McLoughlin. Ho added that 130,000 people Avore receiving relief now, compared with 59,000 in 3929. DEFENCE FORCES BILL. ( j ' LIMITATION AMENDMENT. PECULIAR SITUATION. (Received 9 a.m.) DUBLIN, March 20. The Irish Free State Senate today passed the Central Fund Bill, after AAiuch it considered the Defence Forces Bill. An amendment limiting the operation of this Bill to the period ended June 30 Avas carried by 27 votes to .18. Mr Ernest Blythe said it Avas unfortunate that the Government had conferred administrative poAvcrs on men AA'ho lacked training. Speculation has arisen as to the Government’s attitude, as, unless it accepts the amended Bill, the army, the police and the military tribunal AA'ill be automatically dissolved. Otherwise the Bill Avould be held up for IS j months, and in the meantime the army j and the police must continue.

O’DUFFY PROSECUTION. TRIBUNAL’S LIMIT. (RcceiA-cd 10 a.m.) DUBLIN, March 21. The High Court, by a majority verdict, made absolute a conditional order prohibiting the Military Tribunal trying General O’Duffy on a charge of sedition and inciting to murder, but held that the tribunal AA-as competent to try him on charges of being a member of an unlawful association. ‘ ‘FLAGRANTLY EXTREME, ’’ JUDGE HANNA’S OPINION. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 21. Mr Justice Hanna declared that there Avore times Avhcn the Legislature might legitimately clip the Avings of individual freedom and liberty of thought and action. The civil population must submit, for the general good, to strict discipline, but the claim of the ■ Attorney-General, Mr Connor McGuire,, K.C., that the military tribunal was superior to the court was flagrantly extreme. Judge Hanna criticised the composition of the military tribunal of three army officers, asking whether they Avould better be qualified than three jurors, between able counsel, to administer the Irav. General O'Duffy Avas entitled to trial by a jury on charges of sedition and incitement to murder.