IRELAND SPEAKS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11245, 24 June 1922, Page 12

IRELAND SPEAKS

ONE H-OUIt STRIKE AGAINST WAR. “STOP YOUR SNARLING AND FIGHTING.” All the world looks on in amazement at the crimes and follies that are being committed in Ireland, says an English paper. It was expected that when the Free State was established the Irish people would set to work to build up the prosperity which they complained of being 'unable to reach under British rule. Instead of doing that t-hev have allowed a small number' of almost insane extremists to inflict- cruel damage upon the Irish reputation for good sense. Fortunately, it is clear now that these fanatics are few in number. The one-day strike organised as a protest against the militarism that attempted to substitute force for reason as the basis of a new order had a very good effect throughout the world. For fifteen hours in all parts of the Free State work was stopped. No trains or street-cars ran, no taxis plied for hire, no newspapers were issued, no restaurants opened. “Stop your feuds and your fighting,” was- what the strikers wanted to say, and “stop your snarling,” as Mr Lloyd George said at Genoa; the Irish strikers said it with effect. This remarkable incident showed that the great mass of the people are in favour of settling down under tlie new arrangement made with Great Britain, for it is only the opponents of that arrangement who want to fight and perpetuate feuds and foroe-rule on the old Prussian lines. The sooner a general election can be held the better it will be for Ireland. It is difficult to understand why there has been so long a delay.