FREE STATE ESTABLISHED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18267, 7 December 1922, Page 9

FREE STATE ESTABLISHED.

ROYAL ASSENT TO BILL.

REBEL COUP NOT ATTEMPTED.

MR. COSGRAVE HOPEFUL. END OF TROUBLES IN SIGHT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrisnt. (Received C.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Dec. 5. The Irish Constitution Bill has received Royal assent. After the assembly of the Free State Parliament, Mr. W. T. Cosgrave, President of the Executive, acting on medical advico, will take a two months' holiday. Beside public worries, he is concerned over tho serious illness of Mrs. Cosgrave.

Tho failure of the Republicans to attempt (he expected coup d'etat is believed to be due to defections from their ranks. It is freely declared in Dublin that Do Valera is anxious for a cessation of hostilities.

Mr. Cosgrave and General Richard Mulcahy, commander-in-chief of the Free State army, met Mr. T. M. Healy, the Governor-General designate, at Holyhead on tho lattcr's return from London, and warmly congratulated him on his appointment.

Mr. Cosgrave, interviewed, said that the situation was well in hand. He had high hopes that the end of their troubles was in sight. The union of the North and South could not long be delayed, a dividing line was unnatural. Mr. Healy's appointment was undoubtedly popular with all classes, and he hoped that it would mark the turning point, of Ireland's long chequered career. Mr. Erskine Childers' execution had been received with calmness and fortitude. As showing the rapid improvement of the economic conditions, there was a largo increase in exports compared with last year.

FIRST GOVERNOR-GENERAL.

JUST PLAIN TIM HEALY.

REFUSAL TO TAKE TITLE.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, (food. 6.5 p.m.! LONDON, Dec. 5.

Mr. T. M. Healy, in an interview, said: "I have always been plain Tim Healy, and as Governor-General I shall always hope to remain Tim Healy. I will never accept a title. Simplicity will be the keynote of my office."

FREE STATE'S CONSTITUTION.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS

The following is a summary of the main features of the Constitution" of the Irish Free State, which has been ratified by the British Parliament and has received the Royal Asent. The Constitution is prefaced by a governing clause, which gives the Treaty with the British Government the force of law. Fundamental Eights. Section I. deals with " Fundamental Rights." Tht Irish Free Stat© is a 00-ennal member of the Community of Nations forming the British Commonwealth of Nations. AH government and. authority are derived from the people. Irish citizenship is defined. Any person being a citizen of another State may elect not to accept Irish citizenship. The national language is Irish. English will be equally recognised as an official language. No titles or honours may be conferred for services in relation to the Irish Freo Slate except with the approval of the Executive Council of the State. Freedom of conscience, free profession of religion, and freedom, of expression of opinion aro declared. The rights of the. State in and to natural resources shall not be alienated.

Private exploitation to be. under State supervision. Legislative Provisions. Section 11. deals with Legislative Provisions. A Legislature to be known as Oireachtas is created to consist of the King and two Houses, the Chamber of Deputies (Dail Eireann) and tho Senate (Seanad Eireann). Adult suffrage is provided. The Senate is to be on an electivo basis, the electors to be over 30.

The Oath prescribed by the Treaty is to b-a taken by members of Oireachtas. It must be taken and subscribed by every member before taking his seat and before the Representative of th« CrownPayment of members of Oireachtas is provided for. Election to bo according to the principles of Proportional Representation. Constituencies to be revised every 10 vears.

Each university is to elect two representatives to the "Senate. It is to be composed of citizens who have done honour to the nation by public service, or, who, because of special qualifications, represent important aspects of tho nation's life. A panel of qualified Senators to be formed. Bail Eireann to have authority in money Bills, exclusive of the Senate. A joint tessior. of both Houses is provided in the ease of disagreement for the purpose of debating Bills other than money Bills. Bills that have passed both Houses to be presented for the Royal Assent. Assent can be withheld or reserved, providing that the Representative of the Crown shall act in accordance with Canadian precedent . Oireachtas may create subordinate legislatures, subject to restriction upon thenpowers, or functional or vocational councils. Oireachtas to have the exclusive right to raise and maintain the armed forces mentioned in the treaty. Provision is made for a referendum of Bills passed by both Houses on a resolution of the Senate assented to by threefifths of its members, or by a petition signed by not less than one-twentieth of the voters on tho register of voters. The decision of the peop.e on such a referendum to be final. This does not apply to money or emergency Bills. Oireachtas mav provide for tho initiation by the people of proposals for laws or constitutional amendments.

The Irish Free State shall not, save in the case of actual invasion, be committed to active participation in any war without the consent of Oireachtas. A referendum is necessary in the case of constitutional amendments. v The Executive. Section 111. (A) deals with the executive :— The executive authority to be vested in the King, and to be exercisable according to Canadian precedent. There shall be an executive council to *dvise the Government, responsible to Dail Eireann, and to consist of not more than 12 members. Eight of these shall not (save on the motion of the president of the executive in regard to not more than three of them) be members of Oireachtas. The president and vice-president shall be members of Dail Eireann. The representative of the Crown shall be appointed in like manner as the Gov-ernor-General of Canada. The Judiciary. Section IV. deals with the judiciary:— Provision is made for the right of any person to petition His Majesty for special leave to appeal from the Supreme Court of_ the Free State to His Majesty-iu-CouncU.