POLITICS IN IRELAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19486, 16 November 1926, Page 16

POLITICS IN IRELAND.

SEVEN SEPARATE PARTIES. DE VALERA'S NEW GROUP. COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS [from our own correspondent.] DUBLIN. Oct, 1. Fianna Fail is the name of the new > political party launched by Mr. De Valera and his supporters who have seceded from the official Republican group. The party is constitutional, and is says it is pre pared to enter the Dail if the oath of allegiance be removed. There is considerable political activity all through the country by this party and Mr. De Valera is busily engaged addressing meetings daily. He is getting an attentive hearing, but there is no enthusiasm. Indeed, the flavour has worn off Irish politics and little interest is being displayed in the activities of the numerous parties that seek the support of the people. The party recently formed under the guidance of Captain Redmond is known as the "National League Party," and is really a renaissance of the old Irish Parliamentary Party so ably led by his father, the late John E. Redmond, whose heart was broken by the ingratitude and insults of the Irish people. But that is a fate that must be risked by all reformers who embark on the troubled seas of Irish politics. TJhe statement issued on behalf of the provisional committee sets out.:—"There is a grave and urgent necessity for a new constitutional party which shall ensure national development. The party accepts without reservation the AngloIrish Treaty and the constitution, and must accept as valid and binding all engagements entered into by lawful authority; must direct its. policy toward an effective reconstitution of our partitioned Ireland, as well as a restoration of the economic welfare of the country.". , , Seven Political Parties. There are already seven political parties in the Free State, and a few more are threatened. The seven parties in existence are the Government Party, the Farmers' Party, the Sinn Fein, the Fianna Fail, Labour (transport unions), Labour (Larken's unions), and the National League. In addition there are many "independents," who swing every wayi It is rumoured that the Government will meet the approaching general election with, a favourable budget in regard to taxation and the launching of new loan. Meantime £he people's investments in the post office bank and in ,saving*certificates are very satisfactory. But unemployment is very prevalent, and emigration is proceeding apace. Of course the absence of unemployment in the United States and the present high rates f of wages there are attracting thousands, particularly from the West of Ireland. StandJug the other day at Queenstown (Cork), as the emigrant trains came in, one was astonished at the numbers of fine young men and women who were leaving. But they were all in jovial mood and did not seem to have the least interest in the "ould sod." Despite the unemployment prevailing and the toll of the emigrant ships, churchmen, lawyers, civil servants, teachers and politicians are waxing richer every day. We will be lucky indeed if the years that are to come do not bring as a crop of troubles, something similar to the commotions that are rending Mexico. History does not seem to offer any lesson for certain people who chose to forget the lessons othijr nations neglected. Respect for Great Britain. Meanwhile, in the popular mind throughout the country, there is a growing regard for Britain and British msti-j tutions. As one old farmer pilt it, "We never knew what robbery and jobbery really was until our own folk and ail their cousins got on top." Things, of course, might be worse. We Have peace and an appearance of law and order, and perhaps, purification and stability will come in time. The Free .State, is still very young, and, despite all it had to meet, fairly , promising But taxation is too high, expenditure too generous, official jobs too numerous, and unemployment too common. 'We are suffering keenly from an adverse trade balance, but most countries have still the same to record as a result of the Great War. The recent show that in the 15 years from April, 1911, to April 18, 1926, the population of all Ireland decreased from 4,390,219 to 4,229,124, a decrease of 3.7 per rent. The Free State, decreased from 3,139,688 to 2,072,802, a decrease of 5.3 per cent ; Northern Ireland increased from 1,250.531 to 1,256,322, an increase of 0.5 per cent. It is recorded in the returns in 1920-21 that there were 34,419' Irish-born persons i living in New Zealand.