IRISH FREE STATE.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18407, 14 August 1931, Page 3

IRISH FREE STATE.

KILDARE ELECTION. REPUBLICANS JUBILANT. (From a Correspondent.) DUBLIN, July 4. Flanna Fail are jubilant over their victory In Kildare. Why Is not quite clear. At the last election this same party had a majority over the Government of 1461 first preferences, which has been increased to only 1667. The actual majority was further reduced to 509 after the transfer of the Labour votes. The vacancy was caused by the death of a Labour member, and it was hoped at one time that the Government Party would not contest the seat. A straight fight between Republican and Labour might have had a different result. It is a puzzle to many why a district like Kildare, which lies within the pale, and has enjoyed in the past intimate and profitable contact with the British Army, should be so Republican. The explanation is probably economic. The withdrawal of British troops has left a sad legacy of unemployment and distress; poor relief

is very high, farming is in low water and the Government is blamed for th< failure Io settle the sugar-beet dis pule. The cancellation of the specia

trains last. Sunday which left the caterers with large quantities of unconsumed food, was also a last moment advantage to the Republicans. It is not an election from which any general conclusion can be drawn, except that the pendulum is on the swing. The sporting proclivities of our countrymen were shown at one centre where the speakers from two rival platforms and a regatta were all three in simultaneous operation. When the announcement was made that the swimming race was about to begin, both speakers were left without an audience until the contest was decided. Sweepstakes Account. Senator Johnson and others failed In the Senate to secure either by the publication of the scheme or by a complete audit the disclosure of the sweepstake expenses. At one time feeling ran high and the Senator was accused of doing a disservice to the cause of charity, and even suggesting that there was crooked dealing. He made no such unwarrantable suggestion. All he asked, in effect, was that the system of audit which the law imposes on every public company should be applied to the sweepstake operations. One Senator said he had been given particulars of commissions allowed on the sale of tickets, and the amount was exceedingly small. All the more reason for their disclosure. The proposal to apply in future onethird of the hospital proportion to the betterment of rate-maintained hospitals was debated at length. This money is to be spent under ministerial direction on equipment which the local authority could not well be expected to supply out of the rates. It was claimed that this, in substance, was not a subvention in aid of rates. The argument that this money would make our county hospitals look less like jails was conclusive. Distribution of the Money. If sweepstakes continue for the next three years on the present level of success, it is calculated that the hospitals will have received a sum of about £1.000,000. How value for all this money can best be got has become a problem. The line of least resistance, harmony, and possibly common sense is to finance the existing hospitals. Experts, however—as for instance, Senator Doctor Oliver Gogarty—say this is wrong. He argues that some of the present hospitals are ill-placed, badly built, and should be scrapped, and that it is a mistake to dissipate expensive equipment in a haphazard fashion. It is the old problem of efficiency versus vested Interests, aggravated by the demoralisation of easy money in abundance derived from a public monopoly. There seems no feasible course between enforced amalgamation by law or development along present lines. Eloctrlclty Finance. The Dail is to rise at the end of this week without the appearance of the long-promised Transport Bill. it is not expected that the Town Tenants Bill will be taken beyond the Committee stage which it has already passed. ' A measure of first, importance which 1 has just been introduced, and which j must pass, is one to advance a further! £2.000,0(10. making some £10,000,000' altogether, for electricity finance. I n- ] dor this samp measure it is proposed to | pay Dr. McLaughlin, the late managing j director of the Electricity Supply Board, a sum of £2OOO. The long) expected debate on the whole matter, will be of interest. The questions of personal differences (Continued in next column.!

and resignations are only of Importance in so far as they react on service and efficiency. At a time of sagging revenue, Parliament may well ask to lie satisfied that this expenditure Is likely to be reproductive. Unfortunately.

e only convincing evidence, that of •tual operation, will be lacking. The

Minister said that lie had seen the provisional accounts for tiie year ending March, 1930. In last May, but they would not be available in their final form “for some time." This is most unsatisfactory, and the Dail might well refuse to pass more than the Electri-

city Supply Hoard requires for Immediate needs until It sees the audited records of the first year of active oper« ation.