IRISH FREE STATE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 99, 31 August 1923, Page 5

IRISH FREE STATE

GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS.

Press Association—Copyright, Adswtlian and N.Z. Cable Association London, August 30.

The latest retuxn s in the elections in Ireland give the strength of parties as follows: ' Government 34 Independents •< 11 Republicans 10 Farmers' Party b Labor 3

The enumeration of rotes under the proportional representation ky&tern is proving a tedious and long drawn out process. Results are announced .spasmodically when it transpire 8 that one candidate or another has obtained the requisite quota by the allocation of second preferences, but such announcements are unofficial.

! Mr Walsh (Postmaster-General) headed the poll in Cork City with double the necessary quota. In North Cork Mr Daniel Corkery, the outgoing Republican, heads the poll, and in Tipperary the famous Republican, Mr Dan Breen, was returned. The defeat of Mr Cathal O'Shannon, Labor leader in Louth, caused, a surprise. Professor Michael Hayes, Speaker in the late Dail, was elected for both Dublin South and the National University. He sat for the latter in the late Dail. He will now elect which seat he will take and the other thereupon will become vacant, necessitating a by-election.

The- latest reports indicate that neither the Labor Party nor the Farmers' Party have done as well as expected. The Farmers' Party may not exceed twenty, wherea 8 they anticipated forty seata. The leaders attribute this to the insistence of the press on the necessity for voting for the Government to ensure its return, and the Government doubtless profited generally by this advice. lvi<ilit Irish Free State Ministers were returned, including Messrs Cosgrave, Walsh, Duggan, and McGrath mud it is believed the other tluee are safe. Mr Oosgrave, in Kilkenney, received 17;744 votes out of 40,190, or three times tlie quota. Mr. Mulcahy, in North Dublin, received 22, 2iU first preferences out of 56,223, the quota being 63.47. Mr. Duggan

hejidod the ix>li in Meath with 8262 the surplus being 2457. Mr Aitkeu however, was 'letorious in LoutU I with 6651 votes out of 25,506 votes'] cast. The; Government lost two J seats in County Cavaa, including! that formerly hold by the late Mr j Arthur Griffith. Mr de Yakua headed the poll at Clare with 17,739 votes. Professor Mao Neill (Republican) was also elected with 9170 votes.

PREMIER FULL OF PEP, OE VALERA IN SAFE PLACE. (.Received 12.25 p.m.) London, August 30. Mr Oosgrave (Premier;, interviewed «t Holyhead while en route to Geneva, claimed that die result, of the elections was a complete endorseinont of the Government's policy. He said; "We received support from quarters which wo did not anticipate. This Rtvea Ug considerable hope. I am confident that we will soon be a prosperous and law-abiding people." Questioned regarding De Valera, Mr Cosjyave ~aid: "We are not in jxnver yet. 1 cannot commit myself at the proseut juncture, but De Valera is so situated that he cannot do anv harm."