THE IRISH ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18495, 4 September 1923, Page 6

THE IRISH ELECTIONS.

The returns from the Irish elections are now sufficiently near completion for it to become manifest how the country has decided between the Free State and the Republicans. While the Government has not an absolute majority in the Dail as returned to date, the proTreaty parties are overwhelmingly in the ascendant. . The official analysis of the voting must be classed, however, as no more than interim comment. It is obviously not based on complete figures. The Republicans up to the present have 34 seats, and it is predicted that they will win others. On previous declarations, they will not sit or act. There seems to, be some suggestion of reversing this decision, but it is not explained how they will surmount the stumbling-block of the oath of allegiance. There will undoubtedly be a desire to participate in the proceedings of tho Dail, for, hostilities having officially ceased, they will not be able to conduct a very effective campaign in the country ; as active members their opportunities of harassing the Government would be considerable. If they continue as absentees, their action will in some measure be a stultification of Parliamentary Government, something against which the authorities would be justified in talcing action. It would not be unreasonable to make unexcused absence for a given period result in forfeiture of seats. Other Parliaments have such regulations. So far as the oath is a difficulty, this could be met in a very simple way. If it were laid down that all candidates must take the oath for nomination to be valid, the question could not arise subsequently. It is not the normal practice, but neither are conditions in Ireland normal. But, whatever the consequences of the election of this Republican group, the minority in which it' stands attain answers the contention that tho Treaty was forced on - an unwilling people. The Treaty has had a second endorsement from a majority of the nation.