MISSING FROM DAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19719, 19 August 1927, Page 11

MISSING FROM DAIL.

JOHN JINKS EXPLAINS.

ACTION QUITE DELIBERATE. I " SAVED THE GOVERNMENT. HUMOUR OF SITUATION. THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received August 18, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Times. LONDON, Aug. 17. Mr. John Jinks, the member of Captain Redmond's National League Party, who was missing when the vote was taken in the Irish Free State Dail on the noconfidence motion yesterday, has gained more publicity than any man or any event in the British Isles. To-day ho is the subject of leading articles, street corner comment, Government discussions, laughter, applause and abuse. Hordes of reporters were on the trail of Mr. Jinks all day. Various reports were in circulation. One was to the effect that he had been dramatically kidnapped, another that he had mysteriously vanished or been spirited away. One newspaper went tho length of asserting that Mr. Jinks was preoccupied in a Dublin hotel, where the best brands of Irish whisky are stocked, when the vote was taken. Speculation was at its height in Dublin when the cause of it all was observed walking unconcernedly toward the Dail. Explanation and Expulsion. When Mr. Jinks had extricated himself from a mob of excited inquirers, he put all doubts at rest as to his part as the saviour of the Irish Free State Government. There was no blarney about Mr. Jinks. He simply said : "I left the Dail last night without voting in order to save {he Government. My constituents do not favour a Coalition Government They urged me to support the Government and my party pressed me. to vote against the Government. "I listened to the debate arid decided that the present Government is the best for Ireland at present. So I walked out. That is all." The National League Party has decided to expel Mr. Jinks. London Newspaper Comment. The Morning Post says: —"Mr. Jinks should constitute himself a separate party. He has some of the qualities of a leader, but it is quite evident he is not likely to be a good follower." The Daily Telegraph says:—"The sooner Mr. Cosgrave appeals to the country the better, if possible at a general election, because the country is startled at the prospect of a Johnson-Redmond coalition, w'hich would be; completely at the mercy of Mr. de Valera and his party." The Dublin correspondent of the Times says: "Only a political miracle saved the Government. It is the general opinion that Mr. Cosgrave is now safe for at least two months, but Mr. O'Connell, a Labour member, will return shortly from America. This will place Mr. Cosgrave's party in a minority unless Mr. Jinks turns positively to the Government. "On the other hand, the two pending by-elections should result in victories for the Government. If so, that will provide Mr. Cosgrave with a majority and with an opportunity of announcing a dissolution of the Dail." Possibility oi an Election. The correspondent adds: "It must be remembered, however, that a large section of the public, including even Mr. Cosgrave's supporters, dislike the rigours of the Public Safety Act. Mr. Cosgrave would be well advised to rely to the utmost on common law. If so the Government might have a clear majority immediately and even a large majority. "As it is, it is certain that an appeal to the country is likely to be made in December."

In an interview Captain Redmond said the substantial moral result of the vote was satisfactory. The Government's highly-contentious policies could not be carried through when its existence depended on the Speaker's vote.