THE NEW DAIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20271, 2 December 1927, Page 10

THE NEW DAIL.

MR COSGRAVE RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT. DE VALERA SPEAKS IN IRISH. (FROM Oub Own CORRESPONDENT.) . , LONDON, October 19. Owing to the support of the Fanners’ Party and 11 Independents, Mr Cosgrave obtained a majority of votes at the opening meeting of the Bail. Mr Cosgrave’s nomination as President was opposed bv. the Fianna Fail Party, and the Labour Party, but no other nomination was put forward. Had the six members of the Farmers Party not thrown their weight on the t S i °* Government the voting v> “ Qve again been equal. .ar de Valera was e arly in hi s seat. He laicly spoi.j to any of his colleagues and left the case for the Opposition to be Stated by Mr Sean T. O’Kelly. Apparently, Mr de Valera and his followers have decided to speak whenever possible in Irish although it is understood by only a* small portion of the deputies. Mr de Valera was the first to use this language, when on the election of the Speaker, Mr Michael Hayes, he uttered , 6 against the salary attaching to the office of £I7OO a year. He intimated that at the first opportunity they would move that it be reduced' by £7OO per annum.

Mr O’Kelly followed the example of his chief and began his speech in Irish. He opposed Mr Cosgrave’s nomination for 20 mijuites in Irish and then relapsed into English. Upon no conceivable ground that I can imagine could he receive the votes of the dowries of this assembly,” said Mr O’Keliy. He spoke scathingly of Mr Cosgrave’s record. Emigration, he said, was' the only industry which had thriven in the country during the last five years. He spoke of the “ awful horrors, sorrow, and anguish for which Mr Cosgiave’s policy had been rG'^-nsible.”

Mr Cosgrave leaned back in his seat as instTutab.c ns the sphinx. One of the occupants of the front bench sneered audibly, and Mr O'Kelly burst out with the remark; “You may sneer now because you are safe. I hope you will confine to be safe,”

He was going on to say that things were not quite so safe a few years ago, when there were loud cries of “ Hear, hear.” from Mr Cosgrave’s supporters. Mr O’Kelly seemed to relent, and added, softly, “ Perhaps it is not helpful to hark back I don't want to start on a bitter note, though God knows I have justification -n thinking of my 76 comrades lying in their cold graves.” This remark was met with the query of members on the Government side of the House, “And what-of ours?” Mr T J. O’Connell, the newly-appointed Leader of the Labour Party, followed, and made it clear that Labour members would also vote against the proposal. He said that Mr Cosgrave had exhibited an ” almost indecent desire to hang on to hi« '■■fßce.’ -

“ We have no alliance with Fianna Fail, or any other party,” said_ Mr O'Connell, “ and we should want definite assurance on several matters before we give our support to Fianua Fail.

“ We should require," he added, looking over at Mr de Valera, “ an assurance that the Treaty upon which this State is founded would only be altered by the authority of a majority of this Parliament." Mr Blythe, Minister of Finance, replied for the Government, and declared that at all times the object of Mr Cosgrave’s policy had been to promote the interests of Ireland and Irish nationality. \ The division, which took place after a discussion lasting three hours, resulted as follow*. For the motion 76 Against 70 Mr Cosgrave was accordingly re-elected by a majority of six.