HOME RULE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10143, 3 May 1911, Page 1

HOME RULE.

THE ENVOYS FROM IRELAND

WELCOME AT WELLINGTON. [FKOM OTJR Corrkspondent.] WELLINGTON, May 2. The Irish Home Rule delegates, Messrs W. A. Redmond, J. L. Donovan and R. Hazel Don, were welcomed to-day by the Mayor (Mr T. M. Wilford) and members of the City Council. The envoys were accompanied by Dr Cahill (president), Mr Martin Kennedy, Dr Martin and several members of the Reception Committee, and the Hen G. Fowltis was aJeo present. The Mayor said he desired to extend to the envoys, on behalf of the city and of til© Council, a hearty welcome to New Zealand. They had come to the dominion as representatives of a great people. We as a city," lie said, '' though we have no politics, for no municipality in this country has politics, and I hope no municipality in this country ever will have politics, welcome you as the • representatives of the citizens of the .Empire City of New Zealand, and wish you long life and prosperity." Mr Wiliord assured,the delegates of the hospitality that "would be extended to them. They would find that the legislative method of this country was not so unwieldy as that of the Old Land, and the chance of experiment so opportune that they could be shown new things. So far as civio government was concerned, they had been, introduced to the first Council elected under the extended municipal franchise, which was adult suffrage. The right of voting for Mayor and councillors was held by every person of twenty-one years of age who had lived three .months in the district. The result of the elections had been the return of-the councillors who had the confidence of the city, and the franchise had not been been exercised in a spasmodic way, but with the earnestness which characterised people who had been educated up to an appreciation of its value. 'lhe city's general rates were levied on the unimproved system, which had worked well. Though there was power to change the method i this had not been attempted. Mr Wilford added that ho had journeyed through many parts of Ireland, and thought that when the visitors saw the rich pastures of Taranaki it would remind them of their own country, but the difference would be the huge quantity of stock to the aero in Taranaki and the habited state of the country as compared with parts of Ireland. Councillor Smith (senior councillor) also welcomed the delegates in a brief speech.

Mt Hazleton said that the envoys deeply appreciated the welcome that had been extended to them. They knew that that welcome had been given to them not on personal grounds hit because of the position which they were proud to occupy and the people which they were proud to represent. He would only say that if in every place in New Zealand they met with the same kindness and consideration as they had met with in the city of Wellington, their stay-in the dominion on personal grounds alone would not only be a very pleasant one, but also very useful and instructive. He agreed with the Mayor that it was always useful for people from the Old Country to travel as much as possible among the newer countries, such as this, because they could undoubtedly learn a great deal from them, and perhaps it might be beneficial to both parties. As one interested in municiPif at S.° n ? e ' being a member of the City Council of his own town, it had boen very instructive to listen to the Mayor's remarks upon the municipal government of Wellington. Sometimes not enough importance was attached to the branch of government on which so largely depended the health, well-being and prosperity of a community. This was not the time to make political references, but they looked forward not only to the carrying out of the work 011 which they had come, but also to gaining an experience which might be useful and profitable to them when they again took part in the affairs of their own country.

j.l. said the reception they had with truly bespoke the sense or justice and fair play and honesty and hospitality which characterised every new country. He could not help being impressed bv the Mayor, who spoke of the Council and the office which he held as being obtained by the direct vote and suffrages of the mass of the people. 0 1 ': Men and women. Mr Redmond: That, to my mind, is a State of affairs which could not be equalled in any part of the world. Thev heard a good deal about the great democracy of France and the great republican democracy of the United States of America, but his opinion was that nowhere m the world would they find a truer sense and' a truer ideal a ," er democracy, than they would find m the dominion of New Zealand and the Commonwealth of Australia The Irish Party in the Mouse of Commons had always supl w ' oulfl always support, every democratic measure that had been brought forward, and it was a great gratification to Irishmen at know with what dignity and hospitality their representatives had been given a civic official reception in this great new land. It was a great satisfaction to come to a budding, thriving and prosperous land to find that the ideals they had at Home been lostenng and pushing forward to the best of their ability had borne such fruit there. He felt sure that when J Jr Smith said New Zealand was an agi icultural country he did not intend to apologise for it. For that reason he congratulated New Zealand from the bottom of h, s heart that it was so, and he hoped that it would never become anv thing like the country districts of England Certainly they bad no desire m Ireland, which in the near nature they hoped would turn over a new leaf and become a little more prosperous than in the past, to see jt develop into a country of chimney stacks, they wanted people to eo on to t'ie land and settle there. In "Ireland there wore vast tracts of uninhabited Jpikl. I here was a similar state of tilings in Aevr Zealand. _ Truly in several thin £.3 Ireland ana Now Zealand stood togather. Ireland was about the same size, and New Zealand had no snakes, ihey had heard tho legend of St atnek, who drove all the snakes out of Ireland (Laughter.) It would bo great gratification to Irishmen at Home to know (vith what dignity and hospitality their representatives were received by the citizens of Wellington. During their long journeys In the Southern Hemisphere they would not forget that the first place where thev had been officially welcomed was in the great municipality of Wellington Mr . Donovan was the last speaker, unlike his colleagues, he said he had the privilege and the pleasure of visiting this great dominion some four years ago. and he had carried away with him . very pleasant memories indeed of the people of the country. A good deal of ignorance prevailed in the Home countries with rogard to such progressive lands as New Zealand, and he had in articles" and speeches availed himself of the opportunity to always uphold the character of the people and the institutions of the dominion which had impressed him so much on hin previous wudi. He knew of no DeouL who had

a larger conception of civic duties, or who were possessed of such a breadth of view as regarded tolerance and progressive ideals in connection with the government of their country as the New Zealanders had. and he was glad that his colleagues would have an opportunity of verifying what he told them they would find m New Zealand, a people tolerant and progressive and free in every way, and that they tvould carry away with them many new ideas which might be brought into the Government of their own country with advantage. New Zealand was indubitably leading the Old Country— at least, the Old Country was copying New Zealand's many reforms, which had been introduced in connection with the government of Great Britain and Ireland. "Wo come bearing a message of good cheer_ and hope to tho people of New Zealand," added 7'ir Donovan. "We believe that at last, with the assent of the British democracy at Home .and of the British-speaking people throughout the world, we are about to attain that measure of national self-government which you so well and wisely enjoy here in New Zealand and we believe that the solution of tl le Irish problem and the attainment of their national rights by the Irish people will tend not merely ' to tho prosperity and purification of our own country politically, but that it will tend to consolidate and strengthen the Empire, of which it will be pleased to be incorporated as a free unit. If that comes to pasL, within the next eighteen months or two years, we, will have to thank the people of Australasia, of all sections, of all creeds and classes, for the practical sympathy support which they have accorded

THE NATIONALISTS AND THE CORONATION. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, May 2. Questioned with reference to the cablegram stating that the Nationalist Party would not take any part in the Coronation, Mr Redmond said the Nationalists were holding aloof, as they always had done in past coronations. " They will do so until Home Rule is granted," he added, " buc remember that the King is assured of a most hospitable and hearty welcome from the people of Ireland when he visits them, although there will be no official welcome until we get what we have been demanding, self-government. Our feeling is not against the King, but against the Constitution."