ADDRESSES BY THE DELEGATES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15186, 4 July 1911, Page 2

ADDRESSES BY THE DELEGATES.

LARGE AND SUCCESSFUL MEETING. A very large gathering assembled in the Garrison Uuu last nigiit, 10 .hear adurcssisi by mo Uirco dologatos. The stating aixomuhouation at too bpaoious building- vas luiiy occupied, upfiluiis and dowiiswi.s, only u email number ot chairs on tr.o nwi ut fcho rear oi line hall leinaiimig empty. 'Imu cluur was occupied by Mo itlayor ot Lninuj.li (.Mr \V. iiurncti), and tuats on tlio piatlorm woro jwso occupied tyr tho Jttou. .vir (Jallun, M.L.1!., Hon. Mr 1-uul, iu.L.U., ilithoji V wuoii, iatJiw Corfcy, Alossrs A. ii. ij.irolay, J. Coauna, (J. jx. tsniei, r. ijohorty (uiuiirnuui oi iiio Taiori Voamy jtt. a. MoyuJian, ana otnors. Uho Mayor said it was his pleasure as well «a ma duty to introduce to Uie meeting tho tnreo gunticmen wlw had wmo out ficin ircMnd to laik to tJicm on a subject tl.ut was a'caiing a gi«at d.ul of iute.est in tho Old Lana aa >.o:l aa here. Jtie relerrwt to homo Kuio lor Ireland. These gciitlomen oamo from tho Beat of war, full ol ulio late3t iiifoiLiialion from Wcetminstcr und Iruliind. tic wne suro they ivould be listened- to witn tile attention and lespecc they were entitled to. Jlo refecred to tJio kto Mr GJjulstono and his oonvorsion to Homo fiuJo. If aJiyono prorent was converted, in bis views with rogard to Hoano Eiilo, there WCS un excellent example in tliat great poJiticion. Mr Haielton, who, oir rising to speak, was grootod with, prolonged applause, sajd it was an inspiring sight to sco such a largo and onthusiastio gathering, and with all his heart \» thanked fcho pooplo of Dunodiii for tho splontKd woJoonio they had aoewded them. Tlicy liad now crrivod at tho last ttago of tJicir \\<ork in 6ho Dominion of Now Zealand. Everyvvlwio they had gone tlie-y had loceivwl notliitig but the Bi*at«at kindness, tJw g6X>at«it and support not merely {row their own Irish iveplo, ibut from oil sections and classes of tho community, He was plud to fiml that Dunedin \ws no Oi-epolion to iho rule, that tlhft people hare also ftsd a worm (Continued on page J.)

. (Continued from pago 2.) place in thoir hearts for the causo of old Ireland. He knew 'before he- camo here that this would bo so. Ho had heard that in addition to the Irish clement there wero many peoplo in Dunedin and. Ofcago who hailed from, bonnio Scotland, and it was perfectly oortecfc and true to say tiha-t all through! their struggle for Homo Ilulo for Ireland they had had no staunoher or better friends than the Scottish people. They gave their support, and tho Irish members wore not ungrateful for it. Not only were tho Scottish members supporting Homo Rule for Ireland, but tho Irish members ivere supporting Home Rule for Scotland as well as for Ireland, But Scotland, recognised that over and abovo everything else, and even before its own claims in this matter camo uw national claims of Ireland.' Tho history of the two countries had been very different with regard to tlieir political situations. Scotland joined as a willing and ready partner in active union with England. Sho did not face the same persecution, the 6amo tyranny that Ireland had had to enduro in days gone by. Ireland's uniArc was forced ■upon it far fraud and corruption, which the late Mr Gladstone described as the foulest 'and blackest persecution in tho history ot mankind. Their Parliament was token from them by force, their industries were suppressed by law, their revenue, their nationality, and their customs—in fact, their existence—they set about to exterminate. The wonder was that thero was any Irish race left at all to-day. Although the population of Ireland under this system of niisgovernment had been reduced by more than half in 60 years—it was close upon nine millions to 1848, and' to-day it was lees than four millions and a-half—thero was in spite of that fact enough of the Irish race left at Homo to-day to bring this struggle for self-government to a successful and triumphant conclusion.—(Applause.) And that was the message ho arid his friends brought to them to-night. Tho oral of this long and weary struggle for selfgovernment was in sight One by one they had broken down the barriers that stood in the way of the concession of Home Kule, a system of national autonomy for tho people of Ireland. Tho greatest oamerthe House of Lords-was to bo destroyed. They could take it as settled that tho Veto Bill would bo passed into law this session. There would be no meaning in constitutional Government if it were otherwise. If the Houseof Lords at the twelfth hour obstructed the passage of this bill, then the Govern, meni would bo driven to immediately create 500 new Lords to pass tho Veto Eill into law over'the heads of the obstructionists. The Veto Bill was as good as passed into law, and the first great mt*-.Vure under this Liberal Government nexi year was to be a measure for Home Rule "for Ireland on the'lines of Mr Gladstone's bill in 1893.-(Applause.) What had they been asking for? It was purely the right to manage and control their own domestic affairs in their own way, as was done in Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Under Home Rule they would continue. to send l a certain number of their representatives to tho Imperial Parliament, as they were willing to pay their proportion, of taxation for tho support of the army and navy, and suchlike. But thev did ask, and they would not be satisfied until they tho saroi power to manage their national affairs as was enjoyed here. He was surprised to know that New Zealand was not only helping Ireland to gain Homo Rule, but that she had also been represented at Home as supplying these Ulster loyalists who had been referred to, with men, money, and arms. The latest Irish paper contained intimation that tho Grand Oraiigo Lodge of Ireland had received promises from the Grand Lodges of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand of support in tho sha|ie of men, money, and arms in order to lcsisfc the granting of Home Rule. Tho president of tho Australian and New Zealand Lodge, when interviewed on tho subject, said ho was in a very awkward'position— (laughter),—because he could not say that any promise had been made. If they wanted his (the speaker's) estimate of those people who had been talking about fisrhting against the concession of Homo Rule, he would say that the suffragettes would be sufficient to rout tho wholo of them.—(Laughter.) For 110 ycais Ireland had had no reasonable form of constitutional government. It was at present ruled by 67 boards and departments, of which the Chief Secretary was president by lfjrtuo of his office, and from 90 to 95 per cent, of the army of officials who comprised these boards and departments were opposed to Home Rule and hostile to the aspirations of tho Irish people because thc-y did not want the power and authority which was at present in their hands to pass into tho bane's of tin- Irish people themselves. Tho' Irish people had'done their part in assisting this great movement for self-autonomy. Last year they subscribed £15,000. Conditions " in respect of elections wore very much different at Home from what they were here. Not one single penny was expended by the State on election expenses. These hail to bo borne by tho candwtotcs or the party. An election in Ireland cost between £25,000 and £30,000, and they had had three elections within tho lastfive years. Tiier. there were the expenses of propaganda and other work, and the people hero would nvilise how necessary it was for them to eppeal to tho people in other parts of tho world. But they believed this would be the last appeal, and in helping them the' people of Now Zealand would have been doing their part in helping to have placed upon the Statute Book a Homo Rule Bill which would enable Ireland to live in friendship, peace, and happiness side by side with England, Scotland, and Wales.—(Prolonged applause.) Tho Hon. Mr Paul moved—"That as funds aro urgently required to defray tho heavy expenses which have to be incurred in the contest for Homo Rule, a collection, be now made for that purpose." He spoke for a few minutes in support of the motion. Mr A. R- Barclay eeconded the motion, which was carried, and a collection was then systematically taken up by a largo body of collectors. _ Mr Donova;i felioitated tho Mayor on tho public spirit which dictated that ho should toko the '"lair at that large and .representative gatnerinp.—(Applause.) The citizens of Dunodin must also be congratulated on the splendid manner in which they had rallied to tho Jiall in support of tho causo of Ireland.-(Applause.) His colleagues and himself wero thero that night as humblo sentinels from the watch-towers of Irish liberty, and they fancied the people- were putting , to them tho question, " How goes it with old Ireland? How stands it with her cause, and what aro her prospects of success in tho future?" They answered back that all was going well with Ireland, that they brought a message of good cheer and encouragement, and that they believed that within tli3 next two yoare they would see the realisation of the hopee and aspirations of their people in the opening of a free Parliament in Dublin—(Applause.) The demand made by tho Irish people was a fair and just one. It was based on two grounds —(1) of hietorio title and (2) of expediency. To those who charged Ireland with intolerance ho said, " Give us a purely Protestant Parliament in Ireland if you like, so long as it is an Irish Parliament."—(Applause.) What they objected to was rulefrom tho outside. If its affairs wero not mismanaged Ireland would bo one of the most prosperous countries in the world, aaid a jewel in the orown of tho Empire.— (Applause.) He repudiated the charge ma:lo in some quarters that in the event of lion:* Rulo being granted there would bo reiigioui persecution in Ireland. The Irish people liad novor been guilty of religious persecution. Let them look at the party in Ireland to-day.' There wero 12 or 14 Protestant members in it. Further, 95 per cent, of the people of Donegal were Catho lies, and their two representatives in Parliament wore Protestants.—(Applause.) Tho Acting Prime Minieter (the Hen. Sir James Carroll) arrived at this stage, and on taking a scat on the platform was we); corned with loud applause, and Mr Donovan remarked: " We appreciate very much th:> ■action of Sir James Carroll in coming to our meeting this evening."—(Applause.) Resuming his remarks, Mr Donovan said ■tho cry of intolerance was an old fcogev. He mentioned tho names of other Protestants in the party, and asked. Would any man seriously argue that thofo Protista;'t gentlemen who wero members of the party were working for tho amelioration .and the liberty of the people in order that when the people got the rights they sought thev might immediately burn round and persecute the co-religionists of tho Protestants now in office? The landlord and ascendency party of Ulster had always bron dragging in the red herring of religion in order to divide tho people, and he was glad to bo able to tell thorn that Mi- DovJin stood to-day as the champion of Ulster democracy. The greatest captain of industry in Ireland at tho present timo was on tho side of tho Home Rule party. Lord Pirrie was practically thte proprietor of the great shipbuilding firm of Harland and Wolff. Ho employed thousands of hands, and paid in wa?<M about £40,000 a week. Lord Pirrio, a Protestant gentleman, was a Liberal in politics, and lie camo out at the last two elections, with a manifesto in favour of I Home Rule.—(Applause.) Would anybody »y that Lord Pirrie, vybo M'wjied jj>

Belfast and had a great stako in tho country, would advocate Homo Rule fur Irelund if ho beliovcd for a moment that it • meant the disruption of the Eaipiro or injury to a single Protestant, or that tho Irish pooplo wero not competent to govern their own affaire? Bishop Vordon moved—"That this meeting aoeordn to tho ktish delegates its warmest thanks for their efforts in the causo of Home Rule for Ireland, and trusts that these efforts. will be . speedily orowned with success " In New Zealand tho pccplo enjoyed a very considerable sha.ro of homo rule, and because wo had liberty to manage our own alfairs our people woro prosperous and happy. Was it not reasonable to suppose- that by the granting,of Homo Rhle to Ireland similar results would bo obtained?—(Applause.) The Irish wiero a noble, generous people, and they would not abuse tlieir liberty.— (Applause.) In tho namo of tho people he thanked tho delegates for thoir efforts in tho cause of Home Rule for Ireland.— (Applause.) Tho Hon. Sir James Carroll seconded tho motion. He spoke in favour of tho granting of Homo Rule to Ireland, and then favoured tlio audience with' "something in legendary lore.' , St. Patrick, ho said, Was an Irishman.—(Laughter , .) Ho was born in this country, and tried his 'prentice hand hero. How beautifully green was the country, with its lakes and Alpine scenery, with verdure clothing it to tho edges of tho lakes—a perfect picture and poem. Ho did his work here. Then wo said to him, " Go forth, and mako othor countries like this," and ho wont forth and struck Ireland,-(Laughter and applause.) Ho made Ireland, so far as Nature was concerned 1 , what it is, but he was not a politician Had he been en. dowed with 'political genius there would havo been no question of Homo Ilulo today. " I can claim as a Maori," continued Sir James, "that we sent our saint from hero to make Ireland what it is eo far as it presents itself to tho eye. Now I want to do more as a politician.—(Applause.) I want to see- Ireland righted. I want •to see Ireland enjoying all tho freedom that wo enjoy. I want to see Ireland enjoy tho fruits of self-government."— (Applause.) The motion was put to tho meeting and carried by acclamationMr Redmond said ho felt most grateful to tho peoplo of Dunedin for the touching manner in which they had responded to the appeals in ado by his colleagues, and so ably supported by thoso , gentlemen who had dono them the honour to move the different resolutions. In overy district they had received support, not only from their own kith and kin, from tho grand old guard who for tho last 30 years, had supported them on overy occasion, but from tho young Now Zealanders as well. It was indeed pleasing that upon this Home Rule platform in this city of Dunedin, situated some 16,000. miles away from tho Emerald Islo in the Western Ocean, they had with them the Acting Prime Minister of this great freedom-loving people. And 60 on their platform at Homo did thoy havo Mr Asquith, tile leader of the great English democratio forces. The Irish party had never had any quarrel with the British monarchy. Tlieir quarrel had been tho same quarrel as that of the people of England, Scotland, and Wales. It was with a small coterio of reactionaries who liad arrogated; to themselves the right to rido rough-shod over tho opinions of tho wholo peoplo of Great Britain and Ireland. They in Ireland had been the greatest supporters of democracy.. Even the Tory party had liad to admit that Ireland was misgoverned when confronted with their own Blue Books. Ireland to-day lagged behind every other country in tho civilised world. Was it because tho Irish peoplo were in any way inferior to other people? It had been said that they wero not iit to govern tlieir own affairs, but let them eo to any great country and they would thero find Irishmen in tho forefront in tho realms of politics, law, medicine, and so forth. Ho had been told that Ireland paid threa times aa much for its police ag Scotland! did, yet, according to the criminal statistics, Ireland was by far tho least criminal of the four countries that composed the United Kingdom.—(Applause.) The pooplo of Ireland, had no confidence in fcho system of government Hinder which thoy were ruled, and woro out of. sympathy with .the legislative achievements made for the government of their country. For ih.it reason they asked for self-government. Tho Tories, as well as the Liberals, were confident that Home Rule would yet bo granted to Ireland. He wished to Jtbw attention to another. aspect of the case. One of tho ambitions of Britieh '.statesmen was to complete a treaty with the -.United States, so that the English-speaknnfr'peoples might stand together against the rest of tho world, but that treaty could not be consummated because there wero 20 million people in tho States wno would not-sanc-tion any,treaty, offensive or defensive, until Homo Rule iha<l been granted to Ireland,— (Applause.) He thanked the Dunedin peoplo for the magnificent reajonso they had made to the appeal of the delegates. The Hon. Mr Callan mov«3. a vote of thanks to tho Mayor for presiding. Father Coffey, in seconding tho motion, intimated that the count up of the collection totalled £4M.—(Applause.) Tnc motion was carried, and a vote of thanks was also accorded to (ho committee,' to Sir James Carroll, and to Bisfiop Yerdon. Cheers were given for the dolegates, and the meeting closed.