HOME RULE ENVOYS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8263, 28 October 1912, Page 11

HOME RULE ENVOYS

RECORD SUBSCRIPTIONS

BACK FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

From Our Special Correspondent, LONDON, September 21.

Mr W. A. Redmond, M.P., and Mr J. T. Donovan, tho Irish envoys to Australia and New Zealand, returned to the Old Country last week end by tho Orient liner Otranto. Both gentlemen were in the beat of health and spirits, full to overtlowing with pleasant recollections of their experiences during ineir nineteen months" absence from “Old Ireland/" and very proud of tho success of (heir mission. Everywhere they say they were received with enthusiasm, and the fact that tho total receipts from tho series of meetings addressed by them amounted to d;oU,lXH>—a record lor an Irish part> mission to tho iuicipocKs —lends strong color to their statement that they met with a whole-hearted welcome everywhere from their exiled kinsmen.

Interviewed by the Journal/' Mr Redmond said that the strongest impression made on his mmd by me mission was that all statesmen in Australasia were united in favor of tho immediate grunt of a full measure of selfgovernment to Ireland. “They cannot," Mr Redmond continued, “compreaend why Ireland should be left & discontented and dissatished part of tho British Empire, wnen by tno gift of Heme xiruie tho Empire would be welded together and become truly united and Homogeneous. From the imperial standpoint Australians and New Zealanders are Horae Rulers, because they know from experience the value of Ireland to the Empire/' This sentiment in favor of Homo Rule was, Mr Redmond declared, not only general but unanimous. He believed if u plebiscite were taken In Australia and New Zealand DO per cent, of the people would plump for Homo Rule for Ireland.

Of Australians and New Zealanders, as a whole, Mr Redmond says they are, apart from their political views, “eminently lair, lovol-headed, reasonable, and above all generous." As for their hospitality, it was "really a revelation even to one like mys.ni accustomed to the geneious hospitality of my own country." While paying warm tribute to the assistance of the Catholic clergy, Mr Redmond emphasised the fact that piuctical sympathy was extended to the mission not only by Catholics but by every class and creed, and in his opinion he and his conn ere were “accorded a reception second to none that could possibly be accorded to any delegation rep resenting any phase of public opinion in the Old Country."

Returning to the subject of Home Rule, .ur Redmond scared that Australians and New Zealandeis ot all eectlons are practically united in favor ot Homo Rule. He added: "They have a wondeiful grasp of Home affairs, and they fully realise that tho reconciliation ol Ireland means not. only tho future weiliire of the Irish people, but undoubtedly the solidification of the British Empire as a whole." But there is one phase of the great Irish question Australasians did not understand until Mr Redmond explained matters. It was the Ulster question. Listen to his voice on this subject: Queried tho interviewer: “Is the Orange clement of any consequence in Australia?" . r\o, the Orange element in Australia is practically dead. it depends tor its existence on a small, narrow-minded, and politically insignificant section ot iU© community. A subscription ot represents the total financial strength of .he Australian opposition to Home Rule.” ... ••X take it that tho Ulster question would bo regarded with a_groat deal of interest in Australia a»u New Zeala"As a matter of fact, tho only vestige of ’opposition that is leu, iniuuttoiiuai as it ST is grounds of tno Ulster question. Of course, Auscrahans as whole cannot be expected to know the tacts of the Ulster case, when even at hou.o there is so much ignorance prevail inc with regard to it; but wtten tno lacu. were explained to them, they were astonished at the audacity of this smalt minority dictating to such an overwhelming majority in Ireland, m Great Britain, and in the Empire generally. Asked what was the feeling prevalent regarding the Home Rule Bill at present on the stocks, Mr Redmond declared that the feeling amongst irum-Australians was that whatever was accepted by tbe insu leader and the Irish party would be accepted without reserve by all of Irish birth or extraction in Australasia, tie added that they had "the most implicit confidence in the Irish party, and trusted the welfare of Ireland W the judgment of Ireland’s chosen representatives. Speaking strictly with regaid to New Zealand, Mr Redmond declared that iaad “from end to end declared that it whole-heartedly in favor oi --ome j.-iv. and though inhabited for the most part by Scottish settlers or cneir with the Irish terming a very small section of the people, there, as in Australia, the delegates mui practically the uuia'u support of the press, the Ministers ot State, and the citizens generally. Mr Redmond added: “New Zealand gave us a splendid lead, and we can never forget the kindness and generosity of the New Zealand people." Mr Donovan attacked the Australasian Press Cables Association, upon which the press of the antipodes chiefly relies for its cable news from the world outside. Mr Donovan declared that this service. which he describes, as "the worst in the world," appears to' be run "absolutely as a branch of the Unionist party organisation in London." To give point to this, he said: "If Mr Asquith delivers a speech on Home Rule or any other important question the report cabled does not exceed a couple of inches, but if a fifth-rate politician like Bonar Law, or F. E. Smith, or Carson, delivers himself of any absurd commonplace utterance it is cabled almost verbatim."