SIR THOMAS ESMONDE IN WEST KERRY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 12, 6 January 1893, Page 31

SIR THOMAS ESMONDE IN WEST KERRY.

Sib Thomas Esmonds recently addressed a meeting at Milltown :— {39e said he was glad to have that opportunity of metting them (cries of "You'ie welcome"). They got very short notice of his coming, and he had to thank them for the promptitude with which they responded (cheers). At the time of the election, som<* three months ago, when bis name was pat before the electors, they were told that once they heard him and elected him they would never see him any more (laughter). Well, they had elected him to Parliament, and he was there amongst them. While he valued co highly the great trust reposed in him he would be no stranger to his constituents (bear, hear). At the time of the election or since he had not an opportnnity of thanking them personally for the votes they cast on his behalf, bat be came to thank them now on his own behalf and on behalf of the Nationalist party for the services they had thereby rendered to the cause of Ireland (cheers), Their victory was one proof that the people of Ireland were very much too intelligent and patriotic to be led astray on the great issue which then divided Ireland, and which to a certain extent divided it still ; but he was glad to find that the breach was every day becoming narrower, and that the people who were in the beginning led astray were now beginning to realise the error of their ways, and were joining hands with their fellow-countrymen in working for the freedom of their common country (cheers). They had, he believed, during the general election one solitary specimen of a Parnellite in these parts, but he was glad to find that ke had since joined the majority (cheers). So that as far M Milltown and district were concerned division and dissension were at an end (cheers), and he could only hope that the example set them by this case would be followed not only in every other division of Kerry, but throughout all Ireland (cheers). He had been visiting different parts of Weat Kerry during the past few days consulting his constituents as to how best be could advance their wishes and their interest*. In the course of his public career he had not been given to making promises, but he could now promise them that it was his highest ambition to seek out and ascertain how the interests of his constituents could best be served (cheers). So far he had met with many matters locally which needed reformation. They had heard a good deal about the development of the Irish fisheries, but bo far he had not been able to ascertain that any Government had done anything for the fishermen of Kerry. He had been endeavouring to make himself acquainted with the circumstances and the condition of the Kerry fishermen, and he hoped that before very long he would be able to secure some benefits and advantages for them (cheers). At all events be could assure them he would do his best for them, and see that their interest would be better attended to than heretofore (cheers). He had also been making inquiries regarding the taxation in respect of the Dingle railway, and from inquiries he bad made in other baronies, he should confess he was amazed at the condition of things revealed to him. There was no doubt tbat the county, taking it as a whole, and some baronies in a special degree, had been monstrously taxed in regard to this Dingle railway. He would now take the matter in bands and endeavour to do something of usefulness. It seemed to him that great improvement could bt made in the working of the line, and a considerable reduction made in its working expenses. It was a matter which intimately concerned the people of Kerry, and for which to a great extent the remedy was in the hands of the people themselves. Another matter of much local importance was the heavy taxation in respect of extra police, in regard to which Kerry had been more unfortunate than any county in Ireland. He had yet to learo tbat Kerry was so very bad and disorganised as to require such an enormous expenditure for extra police and compensation for malicious injuries, to which the people of Kerry had to submit for many years. Heavy sams had been levied from time to time for malicious injuries claims, most of which were purely bogus. They had already been able to seoure a diminution in the extra police in Kerry, and he hoped that before long they would have no extra police at all. Continuing, the speaker dealt with (he question of the evicted tenants, amnesty, etc, which he dwelt on in his speech in Tralee. He gave some sound, practical advice to the evicted tenants as to the manner in which they should prepare their cases for the Royal Commission, cautioning them to have nothing in their statements but the strict truth. He referred to the question of the labourer, and said where cottages had not already been built the labourers could themselves secure their erection by getting the branches of the Federation in their respective districts to take up the question, as had been done in Wexford and elsewhere, the sites, etc., being through the influence of Federation amicably arranged by arbitration. In conclusion, he asked them all to be prepared for the great County Convention to be held in Tralee about the 10th November, where he hoped to meet them all again (cheers).