IRISH FREE STATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18455, 17 January 1922, Page 5

IRISH FREE STATE

SOUTHERN PARLIAMENT. 0 RATIFYING THE TREATY. . ELECTION TO BE HELD. ~ up~ Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 14. The meeting of the Southern Parliament lasted for half an hour. The business was formal. Mr Pierce Beasley, in submitting the ratification motion, remarked: “Weave here to do business, not to talk.” Mr Joseph M'Bride seconded the motion. He said that an Overwhelming majority of Irishmen demanded, that the treaty should be adopted. •Upon this the President *(Mr Arthur Griffith) pointed out that the Provisional Government would now be created, and would take charge and carry out the terms of the treaty. The Dail Eireann would remain in existence until its terms were carried out and a general election was held in Ireland. The Provisional Government, ho said, deserved the support of every good Irishman. The task would bo heavy. There were difficulties from 'the outset, but with the help of all classes they would succeed. The Provisional Government would regard no distinction between Irishmen, and every guarantee, would be made for fair 'play all round. Mr Griffith added: “We are starting a new era. We want the old differences between sections of Irishmen banished for ever. New differences will arise, as they do in ’ every community, but they will be between Irishmen owning one State.” —A. and N.Z. Cable. THREATENED RAILWAY STRIKE. LONDON, January 14. The threatened railway strike in Ireland as a protest against the proposed revision of wages and hours has been postponed for a month. The Provisional Government meanwhile will investigate the dispute.—Reuter. SCOTTISH HOME, RJJLE. LONDON, January 16., The Scottish Hoihe Rule Association, which claims to represent every shade of political opinion, has issued a manifesto offering congratulations to the Government On the Irish settlement and requesting the inlmediate formulation of a similar self-government scheme for Scotland.